Saints Paul and Peter
c. 1427-28
Meet the heavyweights of the early Church: Saints Paul and Peter, standing shoulder-to-shoulder against a glittering gold backdrop. On the left, Paul rocks a vibrant blue and red ensemble, gripping the sword that ended his life and a book of his letters. To his right, Peter holds the iconic keys to heaven and a book, draped in a massive golden robe with intricate patterns. Created around 1428 by Masolino da Panicale, this piece captures a fascinating moment in art history where the old-school Gothic style—loving that flat gold background—was bumping into the new Renaissance ideas of volume and weight. Masolino was actually the teacher and collaborator of the legendary Masaccio; while Masaccio went all-in on realism, Masolino kept things elegant and decorative, just like the fancy trim on these saints' clothes.
- Technique
- Tempera on panel with gold leaf
- Material
- Wood panel