Spada, Lionello. Torment of the Apostle Peter Hermitage ~ part 11

Description of Caravaggio’s Crucifixion of St. Peter

Caravaggio is rightly considered not only the raysmith in the history of artistic development, but also one of the brightest and most talented representatives of such a style of painting and display as the Baroque. A little later it was this style, not without the help of Caravaggio, supplanted by its popularity other, no less popular and known even today styles.

Such styles that were able to displace the Baroque include, for example, mannerism. Thanks to its features and manner of display, it was able to make a real revolution, first in Rome and then, after that, in the territory of Naples.

What is remarkable is that the artist as a person was very disgusting, so he tried to avoid almost everyone who in one way or another related to his surroundings. And despite his disgusting character, he ranks among the most influential and respected Baroque artists in 17th-century Italy.

He painted his painting, which depicts the crucifixion of St. Peter, specially commissioned by the church in 1601. Along with this he painted Damascus two other paintings. Through these four of his works alone, he became a popular, influential and respected painter of Rome.

Note, not every authority of the churches regarded the works he created as impious and vulgar. But there were also those who did not accept some of his works because of the ugly appearance of the characters.

In the picture the artist most vividly and colorfully portrayed the torments that Peter I had to go through. Peter, according to history, himself insisted that he was crucified from bottom to top, so that the process of crucifixion was not similar to the crucifixion of Christ.

Here, as in almost all works, the artist deprives the viewer of all details if he thinks they are not necessary. That is, it is a dark background, so the focus is on the figure of Peter.