Crucifixion of Saint Peter
1601 Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome
About this artwork
This monumental oil painting depicts the martyrdom of Saint Peter, who is shown being crucified upside down. It was commissioned by Monsignor Tiberio Cerasi for his chapel in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome, where it remains to this day.
Did you know?
Caravaggio was renowned for his revolutionary use of tenebrism, a technique employing stark contrasts between light and shadow to create dramatic effect, pulling viewers directly into the emotional intensity of his scenes. In "The Crucifixion of Saint Peter," he controversially depicted the figures of the executioners with realistic, unidealized bodies, a departure from traditional religious art that often overlooked the brutal reality of such events. This groundbreaking approach made his art both highly influential and, at times, scandalous during his lifetime.
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Crucifixion of Saint Peter
Michelangelo da Caravaggio, 1601
