The Martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul
1528
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1528
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
You see two saints about to be killed—Paul kneeling, Peter upside-down on a cross—while soldiers crowd around with swords and torches. This print was made by carving two wood blocks: one for the lines, one for the shadows. The dark ink layer gives the scene depth, like a dimly lit stage. It’s one of the first times Antonio da Trento tried this shadow-printing method with his teacher, Parmigianino. To see how light and dark can shape a story, look up chiaroscuro.
![The Martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/a51e90060085a207/thumb.webp)
