Saint Peter in Penitence

Surrounded by a barren rocky landscape, Saint Peter is depicted kneeling in penitence by the Flemish painter David Teniers the Younger (1610-90). His saintly status is revealed by the faint gleam of a halo hovering above his head, and by his attribute of the keys that lie before him on the ground. In the Christian tradition, Saint Peter is the keeper of the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Nestled in the rocky outcrop by the waterfall on the right side of the painting is a lone rooster. The presence of the bird evokes an episode in the Bible where Saint Peter denies that he knows Christ (Mark 14:66-72). In this passage, Christ says to Peter, ‘before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times’ (Mark 14 26-31) and, when the bird later crows, Saint Peter breaks down and weeps. In this small painting, Saint Peter is shown isolated from the world among the bare rocks. This rocky setting links to his name – ‘Peter’ – which is derived from the Greek and Latin word for a rock or stone. Christ proclaimed Peter to be the rock upon which the Christian Church would be built, with Peter later becoming the first pope. Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, is built over his tomb.

David Teniers the Younger was the eldest son of the Flemish painter David Teniers the Elder (1582-1649). His style and choice of subjects followed the example of his father’s work, whose popular themes were taverns, landscapes populated with numerous figures, and scenes set in grottoes – usually featuring hermits and saints. Saint Peter in Penitence dates from early in Teniers the Younger’s career, when the artist was still experimenting with different styles. A preparatory study for this painting, which concentrates on the rocky landscape without the figure of Saint Peter, is in the collection of the Courtauld Gallery, London.