St Peter, Apostle Art Photos

St Peter (originally called Simon aka Petrus, Pablo, Pierre, Cephas) (martyred c64-68) Apostle of Christ.
  • Peter lived near Lake Tiberias & worked as fisherman with his brother, St Andrew.
  • Andrew introduced Simon to Jesus who renamed him Peter (actually equivalent of Petrus, Greek for Rock, in Aramaic ).
  • Tradition says meeting with Jesus was while the brothers were fishing.
  • Peter witnessed Christ's early miracles.
  • After acknowledging Jesus as Christ Jesus stated, "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church."
  • Jesus proclaimed that he would give Peter the Keys of the Kingdom, an important symbol in Christian art.
  • During Christ's Passion, Peter initially denied knowing Christ (cock crowed three times, once for each denial as foretold by Christ), but Peter became leader of Christians after Christ's Ascension.
  • Peter is considered to be first Pope of the Catholic Church.
  • Imprisoned in Jerusalem by Herod Agrippa (c43) but, guided by an angel, Peter escaped.
  • Escape is often portrayed as angel freeing Peter of his chains.
  • Little is known of Peter's later life, but early tradition says he was Rome's first Bishop and was crucified (upside down) there (c64) under reign of Emperor Nero.
  • By tradition, St Peter welcomes the Saved to Heaven.
    Attrib. Keys to the Kingdom; sometimes Pontifical dress; sometimes cock crowing; often paired with St Paul.

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    Detail of calling of St Peter & Andrew on Altarpiece of Sts Michael & Peter by Bernat Despuig & Jaume Cirera at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Fresco of Sts Andrew & Peter fishing from church of Sant Esteve d'Andorra la Vella at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.The calling of St Andrew of Sea of Galilee detail from Life of St Andrew Retable at The Cloisters. New York, NY.Art Deco carving of St Peter fishing at St Pierre de Chaillot. Paris, France.
    Detail of calling of St Peter (Simon) & Andrew on Altarpiece of Sts Michael & Peter (c1432) by Bernat Despuig & Jaume Cirera at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Fresco of Sts Andrew & Peter fishing from church of Sant Esteve d'Andorra la Vella (13thC) at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.The calling of St Andrew of Sea of Galilee detail from Life of St Andrew Retable at The Cloisters. New York, NY.Art Deco carving of St Peter fishing at St Pierre de Chaillot. Paris, France.
    Art Deco carving of St Peter called by Christ at St Pierre de Chaillot. Paris, France.Christ appears to Apostles by Sea of Tiberius on carved stone chancel screen in Notre Dame Cathedral. Paris, France.Fresco detail of Sts Andrew & Peter from Abbey of St Peter of Sea of Urgell at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Detail of carved tomb with saints Andrew & Peter in cathedral at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.
    Art Deco carving of St Peter called by Christ at St Pierre de Chaillot. Paris, France.Christ appears to Apostles by Sea of Tiberius on carved stone chancel screen (14thC) in Notre Dame Cathedral. Paris, France.Fresco detail of Sts Andrew & Peter from Abbey of St Peter of Sea of Urgell (12thC) at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Detail of carved tomb (16thC) with saints Andrew & Peter in cathedral at Rock of Cashel. Cashel, Ireland.
    Andrew & Peter on Christ + Apostles altarpiece from Eu in Normandy at LACMA. Los Angeles, CA.Statues of St Andrew & St Peter on facade of St-Sauveur Cathedral. Aix-en-Provence, France.St Peter & St John Healing a Lame Man painting by Nicolas Poussin at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.St Peter Finding the Tribute Money painting by Peter Paul Rubens at National Gallery of Ireland. Dublin, Ireland.
    Andrew & Peter on Christ + Apostles altarpiece (1480) from Eu in Normandy at LACMA. Los Angeles, CA.Statues of St Andrew & St Peter on facade of St-Sauveur Cathedral. Aix-en-Provence, France.St Peter & St John Healing a Lame Man painting (1655) by Nicolas Poussin at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.St Peter Finding the Tribute Money painting (1617-8) by Peter Paul Rubens at National Gallery of Ireland. Dublin, Ireland.
    Polychrome gourd vase with St Peter from Nevers, France at Rouen Ceramic Museum. Rouen, France.Denial of St Peter painting by Rembrandt van Rijn & pupils at Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam, NL.St Peter receiving keys to the kingdom stained glass of St Joseph Cathedral. Hartford, CT.Ivory plaque of Christ giving keys to St Peter & Law to St Paul from Westphalia, Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.
    Polychrome gourd vase with St Peter (c1650) from Nevers, France at Rouen Ceramic Museum. Rouen, France.Denial of St Peter painting (1660) by Rembrandt van Rijn & pupils at Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam, NL.St Peter receiving keys to the kingdom stained glass of St Joseph Cathedral. Hartford, CT.Ivory plaque of Christ giving keys to St Peter & Law to St Paul (1200) from Westphalia, Germany at The Cloisters. New York, NY.
    Carved Christ giving scroll of laws to St Peter surrounded by other Apostles on marble sarcophagus at Arles Antiquities Museum. Arles, France.Christ gives St Peter keys to the kingdom painting by Peter Paul Rubens at Berlin Gemaldegalerie. Berlin, Germany.Christ giving keys to St Peter stained-glass window by Von Gerichten Art Glass of Columbus in Old Cathedral. Vincennes, IN.Christ gives Peter keys to Kingdom stained glass window of Cathedral of Saint Helena. Helena, MT.
    Carved Christ giving scroll of laws to St Peter surrounded by other Apostles on marble sarcophagus (end 4thC) at Arles Antiquities Museum. Arles, France.Christ gives St Peter keys to the kingdom painting (1613-5) by Peter Paul Rubens at Berlin Gemaldegalerie. Berlin, Germany.Christ giving keys to St Peter stained-glass window (1908) by Von Gerichten Art Glass of Columbus in Old Cathedral. Vincennes, IN.Christ gives Peter keys to Kingdom stained glass window of Cathedral of Saint Helena. Helena, MT.
    Byzantine mosaic showing St Peter-In-Chains in Cathedral. Cincinnati, OH.Detail of angel freeing St Peter from his chains on Altarpiece of Sts Michael & Peter by Bernat Despuig & Jaume Cirera at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Deliverance of St Peter tapestry from Tournai? at Cluny Museum. Paris, France.St Paul visiting St Peter in Prison painting by Fernando Gallego of Spain at Cincinnati Art Museum. Cincinnati, OH.
    German-designed, Byzantine-style, Venetian glass mosaic showing St Peter-In-Chains in Cathedral. Cincinnati, OH.Detail of angel freeing St Peter from his chains on Altarpiece of Sts Michael & Peter (c1432) by Bernat Despuig & Jaume Cirera at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Deliverance of St Peter tapestry (1460) from Tournai? at Cluny Museum. Paris, France.St Paul visiting St Peter in Prison painting (c1500) by Fernando Gallego of Spain at Cincinnati Art Museum. Cincinnati, OH.
    Martyrdom of St Peter painting one of four panels by Hans Holbein Elder in Municipal Art Gallery at Schaezler Palace. Augsburg, Germany.Detail of inverted crucifixion of St Peter on Altarpiece of Sts Michael & Peter by Bernat Despuig & Jaume Cirera at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Crucifixion of St Peter painting by a Northern painter at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Art Deco carving of St Peter crucified upside-down at St Pierre de Chaillot. Paris, France.
    Martyrdom of St Peter painting (1512) one of four panels by Hans Holbein Elder in Municipal Art Gallery at Schaezler Palace. Augsburg, Germany.Detail of inverted crucifixion of St Peter on Altarpiece of Sts Michael & Peter (c1432) by Bernat Despuig & Jaume Cirera at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya. Barcelona, Spain.Crucifixion of St Peter painting (c1450) by a Northern painter at Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York, NY.Art Deco carving of St Peter crucified upside-down at St Pierre de Chaillot. Paris, France.
    Saint crucified upside-down to left of central door of Cathedral. Strasbourg, France.Saint crucified upside-down on Duomo. Milan, Italy.Detail with St Peter of The Last Judgment painting by Stefan Locher at Wallraf-Richartz Museum at Wallraf-Richartz Museum. Köln, Germany.Baroque ceiling painting of St Peter welcoming saints to heaven at Gößweinstein pilgrimage basilica. Gößweinstein, Germany.
    Saint crucified upside-down to left of central door of Cathedral. Strasbourg, France.Saint crucified upside-down on Duomo. Milan, Italy.Detail with St Peter of The Last Judgment painting (c1435) by Stefan Locher at Wallraf-Richartz Museum at Wallraf-Richartz Museum. Köln, Germany.Baroque ceiling painting of St Peter welcoming saints to heaven at Gößweinstein pilgrimage basilica. Gößweinstein, Germany.
    Statue of St Peter & facade of St Peter's Church in Vatican. Vatican City.Mosaic of St Peter, circa 11th century in Katholikon, Ossios Loukas. Greece.Apostle St Peter stained glass from Chapel of Chateau of Rouen at Cluny Museum. Paris, France.St Peter panel detail of Madonna & Child polyptych painting by Giotto di Bondone at Uffizi Gallery. Florence, Italy.
    Statue of St Peter & facade of St Peter's Church in Vatican. Vatican City.Mosaic of St Peter, circa 11th century in Katholikon, Ossios Loukas. Greece.Apostle St Peter stained glass (before 1270) from Chapel of Chateau of Rouen at Cluny Museum. Paris, France.St Peter panel detail of Madonna & Child polyptych painting (c1295-1300) by Giotto di Bondone at Uffizi Gallery. Florence, Italy.
    Late Byzantine tempera painting of St Peter at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.St Peter painting by Michele Giambono of Venice at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.St Peter with donor from triptych painting by workshop of Hieronymus Bosch at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.German wood carving of St Peter by Master of Tiffen Altarpiece at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.
    Late Byzantine tempera painting of St Peter (early 14thC) at Dumbarton Oaks Museum. Washington, DC.St Peter painting (1445-50) by Michele Giambono of Venice at National Gallery of Art. Washington, DC.St Peter with donor from triptych (1496-1500) painting by workshop of Hieronymus Bosch at Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, MA.German wood carving (1500-10) of St Peter by Master of Tiffen Altarpiece at Memorial Art Gallery. Rochester, NY.
    St Peter wood sculpture from Germany at McNay Art Museum. San Antonio, TX.St Peter painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.St Peter's Fountain with St Peter, Trier's patron saint, on top & statues representing the four cardinal virtues by Hans Rupprecht Hoffmann in Hauptmarkt. Trier, Germany.Repentant St Peter painting by El Greco at The Phillips Collection. Washington, DC.
    St Peter wood sculpture (c1510-20) from Germany at McNay Art Museum. San Antonio, TX.St Peter painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder at Louvre Museum. Paris, France.St Peter's Fountain (1595) with St Peter, Trier's patron saint, on top & statues representing the four cardinal virtues by Hans Rupprecht Hoffmann in Hauptmarkt. Trier, Germany.Repentant St Peter painting (c1600) by El Greco at The Phillips Collection. Washington, DC.
    St Peter painting by El Greco at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Penitent St Peter painting by Jusepe de Ribera at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Penitent St Peter painting by Jusepe de Ribera at Angers Fine Arts Museum. Angers, France.St Peter the Repentant tile mosaic given to Wilson by Pope Benedict XV at Woodrow Wilson House. Washington, DC.
    St Peter painting (c1605-10) by El Greco at Legion of Honor Museum. San Francisco, CA.Penitent St Peter painting (1628-32) by Jusepe de Ribera at Art Institute of Chicago. Chicago, IL.Penitent St Peter painting (17thC) by Jusepe de Ribera at Angers Fine Arts Museum. Angers, France.St Peter the Repentant tile mosaic given to Wilson by Pope Benedict XV at Woodrow Wilson House. Washington, DC.
    Spanish painted icon of St Peter by Antonio Molleno at New Mexico History Museum. Santa Fe, NM.San Pedro by Arroyo Hondo Painter at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Colorado Springs, CO.St Pierre de Chaillot facade carved with life story of St Peter. Paris, France.Baroque plasterwork depicting St Peter, cherubs & garlands in St Benedict church at Benediktbeuern Abbey. Germany.
    Spanish painted icon of St Peter (1815-45) by Antonio Molleno at New Mexico History Museum. Santa Fe, NM.San Pedro (St. Peter) (c1830) by Arroyo Hondo Painter at Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Colorado Springs, CO.St Pierre de Chaillot (1938) (31 Avenue Marceau) facade carved with life story of St Peter. Paris, France. Style: Romanesque Revival.Baroque plasterwork depicting St Peter, cherubs & garlands in St Benedict church at Benediktbeuern Abbey. Germany.
    Statue of St Peter, Apostle, with his attribute, the keys to the Kingdom at St Aegidius parish church. Gmund am Tegernsee, Germany.St Peter statue in niche of west portal at St-Sulpice church. Paris, France.Sculpture of St Peter at St-Sulpice church. Paris, France.Sculpted St Peter & lamp over entrance to Chapel Royal at Dublin Castle. Dublin, Ireland.
    Statue of St Peter, Apostle, with his attribute, the keys to the Kingdom at St Aegidius parish church. Gmund am Tegernsee, Germany.St Peter statue in niche of west portal at St-Sulpice church. Paris, France.Sculpture of St Peter at St-Sulpice church. Paris, France.Sculpted St Peter & lamp over entrance to Chapel Royal at Dublin Castle. Dublin, Ireland.
    Carving of St Peter in St Louis Cathedral. New Orleans, LA.Fresco of St Peter at Trinity Church. Boston, MA.Statue of Saint Peter at Cathedral of Saint Paul. St. Paul, MN.Stained-glass Apostle St Peter in Cathedral. Metz, France.
    Carving of St Peter in St Louis Cathedral. New Orleans, LA.Fresco of St Peter at Trinity Church. Boston, MA.Statue of Saint Peter at Cathedral of Saint Paul. St. Paul, MN.Stained-glass Apostle St Peter in Cathedral. Metz, France.
    St Peter with keys stained glass window at Eglise Notre Dame de Pitie & St Elisabeth. Paris, France.St Peter stained glass window at Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois. Paris, France.St Peter stained glass window at Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois. Paris, France.St Peter stained glass windows at St Patrick's Cathedral. Dublin, Ireland.
    St Peter with keys stained glass window at Eglise Notre Dame de Pitie & St Elisabeth. Paris, France.St Peter stained glass window at Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois. Paris, France.St Peter stained glass window at Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois. Paris, France.St Peter stained glass windows at St Patrick's Cathedral. Dublin, Ireland.
    Stained glass St Peter with keys & book in Christ Church Cathedral. Fredericton, NB.St Peter stained glass window in St Francis Cathedral. Santa Fe, NM.Detail of stained glass windows, including St Peter carrying Keys to the Kingdom at, Cathedral of Our Lady. Luxembourg, Luxembourg.St Peter stained glass for Missouri by Louis Comfort Tiffany at Blandford Church. Petersburg, VA.
    Stained glass St Peter with keys & book in Christ Church Cathedral. Fredericton, NB.St Peter stained glass window in St Francis Cathedral. Santa Fe, NM.Detail of stained glass windows, including St Peter carrying Keys to the Kingdom at, Cathedral of Our Lady. Luxembourg, Luxembourg.St Peter stained glass for Missouri by Louis Comfort Tiffany at Blandford Church. Petersburg, VA.
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    All photos on this page are originals by & copyrighted by Jim Steinhart.
    All rights reserved. Permission required to use.

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