Introduction
The crucifixion of St. Peter is a painting that is traceable to the baroque period, which was done by Caravaggio. The baroque period went for approximately 150 years from 1600-1750. The period was characterized by a surge of European artists and architecture that used a complex and an elaborate style, thereby resulting in the name baroque art (Google arts & Culture, 2022). Baroque period came after the renaissance period. The renaissance period was characterized by emphasis of human beings, unlike the ancient art and the medieval period that emphasized on heavenly realms. The most notable factors that characterized the baroque period was the rise of protestant movement and counter Protestantism related to the Catholic Church. During this period, the Catholic Church was the dominant church in Europe, and this dominance was reflected in art (Google arts & Culture, 2022). Reformation led by martin Luther; the German monk started questioning the excess powers of the church. For instance, the council of Trent had issued a declaration that drawings ought to convey sacred themes.
Therefore, baroque art had some influence from the church and many drawings reflected church-related themes. There were also other notable features that came with the baroque art such as the use of high contrast resulting from dark and bright colors to generate a dramatic scene; also known as chiaroscuro. Baroque art is also characterized by use of clear details, sculpture splendor, and enthusiasm. This paper is going to examine the painting by Caravaggio, who was a central artist in the baroque period.
The Crucifixion of St. Peter by Caravaggio
Caravaggio was a central artist in the baroque period, and is regarded as an heir of the humanist painting that characterized the renaissance period. Caravaggio is known for his heavy use of the chiaroscuro technique (Jones, 2005). During his lifetime, Caravaggio was known for violence and brawling behavior, which is reflected in his paintings (Christiansen, 2003). Most of his works reflected violent struggles, torture, or even death such as the Head of the Medusa, The Beheading of St. John, and the crucifixion of St. Peter, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, and David with the head of goliath (Jones, 2005).
The crucifixion of St. Peter is a lucid depiction of a crucial moment and scene that is derived from the biblical mythology of St. Peter, who was a follower of Christ. He died through crucifixion, and he asked his killers to crucify him upside down. The painting is one of a kind as it eliminates unnecessary items by using a black context in order to bring the attention of the viewer into St. Peter’s dilemma (Christiansen, 2003). The use of chiaroscuro technique is vividly identifiable in the painting whereby dark and bright colors have been used to represent the characters. The drawings depicts three middle aged men struggling to lift the cross where St. Peter is to be crucified. The man kneeling is wearing a yellow trouser and a white vest, and the rest of the body is left out to show contrast. The man lifting the rope is wearing a black trouser and beige to show contrast.to further demonstrate chiaroscuro, the pullover of the man with a rope is slightly raised, exposing the body (Christiansen, 2003). The third man looking at St. Peter has a white shirt and a red trouser, and the arms are left bare to demonstrate contrast. St Peter has a white clothing around his groins, and the rest of his body is unclothed, but depicted in a bright color to show contrast with the black background (Jones, 2005).
Caravaggio has wittingly used realism to produce intense drama in the drawing. For instance, the painting shows crucifiers as three middle-aged men whose faces are exhilarated. St Peter is an elderly man as evidenced by the gray hair and beards, and the wrinkled face and body (Caravaggio.org, 2022). What is more ironical about the painting is like the crucifiers are already being weighed down by “their sins.” The three men are struggling to lift the body of their victim, and they appear to be really struggling to push and pull the cross with the rope, making one lose sight that a man is being put to death (Christiansen, 2003). The crucifiers have become the victims of the circumstances as they are really struggling and seem to be much agonized than the person they are putting to death.st peters seems relaxed, although his hands and feet are bleeding (Caravaggio foundation.org, 2022). The entire picture and the background seems chaotic and disorganized. The heaviness of the cross seems to have gotten the crucifiers off-guard. St Peter’s aging body is still muscular, depicting considerable strength and weight. Nonetheless, St. Peter is nearly uncovered, emphasizing his helplessness.
In conclusion, Caravaggio’s crucifixion of St. Peter is an example of baroque art, which uses some biblical mythologies. Caravaggio’s personality is reflected in his art depicting torture, violence, and in some instances death. The crucifixion of St. Peter reflects a dramatic and chaotic moment of Jesus Christ’s apostle peter who wished to be executed upside-down as he held that he is not worthy to be executed in a similar manner as Jesus Christ. The crucifiers can barely lift the body of St. Peter, who is elderly as evidenced by the gray hair. The three men seem to be struggling to accomplish their mission and appear like the victims of the circumstances.
The crucifixion of St. Peter is a painting that is traceable to the baroque period, which was done by Caravaggio. The baroque period went for approximately 150 years from 1600-1750. The period was characterized by a surge of European artists and architecture that used a complex and an elaborate style, thereby resulting in the name baroque art (Google arts & Culture, 2022). Baroque period came after the renaissance period. The renaissance period was characterized by emphasis of human beings, unlike the ancient art and the medieval period that emphasized on heavenly realms. The most notable factors that characterized the baroque period was the rise of protestant movement and counter Protestantism related to the Catholic Church. During this period, the Catholic Church was the dominant church in Europe, and this dominance was reflected in art (Google arts & Culture, 2022). Reformation led by martin Luther; the German monk started questioning the excess powers of the church. For instance, the council of Trent had issued a declaration that drawings ought to convey sacred themes.
Therefore, baroque art had some influence from the church and many drawings reflected church-related themes. There were also other notable features that came with the baroque art such as the use of high contrast resulting from dark and bright colors to generate a dramatic scene; also known as chiaroscuro. Baroque art is also characterized by use of clear details, sculpture splendor, and enthusiasm. This paper is going to examine the painting by Caravaggio, who was a central artist in the baroque period.
The Crucifixion of St. Peter by Caravaggio
Caravaggio was a central artist in the baroque period, and is regarded as an heir of the humanist painting that characterized the renaissance period. Caravaggio is known for his heavy use of the chiaroscuro technique (Jones, 2005). During his lifetime, Caravaggio was known for violence and brawling behavior, which is reflected in his paintings (Christiansen, 2003). Most of his works reflected violent struggles, torture, or even death such as the Head of the Medusa, The Beheading of St. John, and the crucifixion of St. Peter, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, and David with the head of goliath (Jones, 2005).
The crucifixion of St. Peter is a lucid depiction of a crucial moment and scene that is derived from the biblical mythology of St. Peter, who was a follower of Christ. He died through crucifixion, and he asked his killers to crucify him upside down. The painting is one of a kind as it eliminates unnecessary items by using a black context in order to bring the attention of the viewer into St. Peter’s dilemma (Christiansen, 2003). The use of chiaroscuro technique is vividly identifiable in the painting whereby dark and bright colors have been used to represent the characters. The drawings depicts three middle aged men struggling to lift the cross where St. Peter is to be crucified. The man kneeling is wearing a yellow trouser and a white vest, and the rest of the body is left out to show contrast. The man lifting the rope is wearing a black trouser and beige to show contrast.to further demonstrate chiaroscuro, the pullover of the man with a rope is slightly raised, exposing the body (Christiansen, 2003). The third man looking at St. Peter has a white shirt and a red trouser, and the arms are left bare to demonstrate contrast. St Peter has a white clothing around his groins, and the rest of his body is unclothed, but depicted in a bright color to show contrast with the black background (Jones, 2005).
Caravaggio has wittingly used realism to produce intense drama in the drawing. For instance, the painting shows crucifiers as three middle-aged men whose faces are exhilarated. St Peter is an elderly man as evidenced by the gray hair and beards, and the wrinkled face and body (Caravaggio.org, 2022). What is more ironical about the painting is like the crucifiers are already being weighed down by “their sins.” The three men are struggling to lift the body of their victim, and they appear to be really struggling to push and pull the cross with the rope, making one lose sight that a man is being put to death (Christiansen, 2003). The crucifiers have become the victims of the circumstances as they are really struggling and seem to be much agonized than the person they are putting to death.st peters seems relaxed, although his hands and feet are bleeding (Caravaggio foundation.org, 2022). The entire picture and the background seems chaotic and disorganized. The heaviness of the cross seems to have gotten the crucifiers off-guard. St Peter’s aging body is still muscular, depicting considerable strength and weight. Nonetheless, St. Peter is nearly uncovered, emphasizing his helplessness.
In conclusion, Caravaggio’s crucifixion of St. Peter is an example of baroque art, which uses some biblical mythologies. Caravaggio’s personality is reflected in his art depicting torture, violence, and in some instances death. The crucifixion of St. Peter reflects a dramatic and chaotic moment of Jesus Christ’s apostle peter who wished to be executed upside-down as he held that he is not worthy to be executed in a similar manner as Jesus Christ. The crucifiers can barely lift the body of St. Peter, who is elderly as evidenced by the gray hair. The three men seem to be struggling to accomplish their mission and appear like the victims of the circumstances.
