Reading
A public act in a square
Perugino leaves space around the meeting of hands and keys. The building on the central axis and the receding pavement draw the eye into the picture, yet the large figures in front bring it back to the exchange. Imagine covering the keys. The kneeling posture still tells you who receives something.
Faces close to the picture plane
Caravaggio places the accusers and Peter close together in darkness. Instead of a wide architectural setting, light picks out the faces and hands. Compare the space between giver and receiver in Perugino with the small interval between the accusing woman and Peter in Caravaggio.
Key takeaway
The same apostle can occupy the centre of a public ceremony or the edge of a confrontation.
Visual study
Where does Perugino show what the kneeling man receives?
Choose one of the three areas of the artwork.
View the complete works and their labels
Christ stands to the left of the kneeling Peter. The large keys connect their hands above the patterned pavement.
Pietro Perugino · Sistine Chapel, VaticanA soldier raises one finger and the woman two. The museum relates these gestures to the three accusations against Peter.
Caravaggio · The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkOther depictions of these apostles
Study gallery
Saint Peter
Study notesLook for the keys. In scenes of the denial, a rooster or Peter’s hands drawn to his chest can identify the same apostle.
Key attributes
Keys
Saint Peter
Study notesLook for the keys. In scenes of the denial, a rooster or Peter’s hands drawn to his chest can identify the same apostle.
Key attributes
Keys
Saint Peter
Study notesLook for the keys. In scenes of the denial, a rooster or Peter’s hands drawn to his chest can identify the same apostle.
Key attributes
Keys
Apostle study cards
Apostle profile
Saint Peter
Fisherman and spokesman of the Twelve.
Memory hook: Keys held or received
Visual examples
Saint Peter
Study notesFisherman and spokesman of the Twelve.
Key attributes
Keys
Saint Peter
Study notesFisherman and spokesman of the Twelve.
Key attributes
Keys
Apostle profile
Saint Andrew
Peter’s brother, often represented with a diagonal cross.
Memory hook: Two crossing diagonals
Visual examples
Saint Andrew
Study notesPeter’s brother, often represented with a diagonal cross.
Key attributes
Cross
Saint Andrew
Study notesPeter’s brother, often represented with a diagonal cross.
Compare at a glance
Peter and Andrew
Saint Peter
Study notesLook for the keys. In scenes of the denial, a rooster or Peter’s hands drawn to his chest can identify the same apostle.
Key attributes
Keys
Saint Andrew
Study notesTwo beams crossing diagonally form Andrew’s saltire. In scenes of his calling, he may instead appear with Peter and the fishing nets.
Key attributes
Cross
Keys point to Peter, a saltire to Andrew. In fishing scenes both may share one net.
Practice
Answer notebook
0 / 1 answeredMore practice
Who is this apostle?
Scan attributes first — then choose a name.
Quick check
Quick check
Attribute checklist
Tap each attribute once you can picture it in art for this lesson.