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, Italian, c.1610-1625
Title
Saint Peter Denying Christ
Datec.1610-1625
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions
104.4 x 133 cm
Credit LinePurchased, 1948
Object numberNGI.1178
ProvenanceThe Marquess of Sligo, Westport House, county Mayo; Lord Terence Morris Browne, Westport House, county Mayo; Lady Isabel Mary Peryonnet Browne, Mount Browne, Guildford, Surrey; F.A. Drey, London, from whom purchased, 1948Exhibition HistoryBeyond Caravaggio, The Board of Trustees of the National Gallery (UK), London, 12 October 2016 - 15 January 2017: National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, 17 June - 24 September 2017
Label TextThe identity of the painter of this work is unknown. As his style is close that of Carlo Saraceni, a follower of Caravaggio in Rome, scholars gave him the nickname, ‘Pensionante del Saraceni’, which translates as the ‘Lodger of Saraceni’. It has been suggested that he was a French pupil of Saraceni, but this remains undetermined. This painting depicts Peter denying his association with Christ, who had prophesied that the former would deny him three times before a cock crowed. The youth, gender and dominant position of the young servant girl compounds Peter’s shame.