Saint Pierre

c. 1578

Hendrick Goltzius brought this intense scene to life around 1578, engraving a design by Maarten de Vos that depicts the martyrdom of St. Peter. According to tradition, Peter requested to be crucified upside down, feeling unworthy to die like Christ, and you can see the brutal struggle as soldiers force him onto the cross. In a fascinating twist of composition, a serene St. Peter stands in the foreground holding his iconic keys, seemingly watching his own gruesome fate unfold amidst the muscular, Mannerist chaos.

Technique: Engraving

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