MURILLO, Bartolomé Esteban
(Seville, 1617-1682)

St Peter in Tears

1650-55
Oil on canvas, 148 x 104 cm
Museo de Bellas Artes, Bilbao

This pathetic image of St Peter repented of his denial of Christ, according to the Gospels, was attributed to Ribera on account of its naturalism and the tenebrist lighting that makes the figure stand out against a dark uniform background. Nonetheless, it has been unanimously recognised as the work of the Sevillian painter Murillo, dated relatively early in his production, around the years 1650-1655, when the influence of Ribera, although attenuated, has a strong impact on the former.




© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.