The Bodies of Saints Peter and Paul Hidden in the Catacombs
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Bodies of Saints Peter and Paul Hidden in the Catacombs is a 1646 ink by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image shows a dark, shadowy scene with two faint figures lying in a rocky cave. The ground is covered in tangled roots and rough stone, while the figures’ faces and bodies blend into the gloom. Light barely touches them, making the scene feel eerie and quiet. The artist used fine lines to create deep shadows and texture, almost like scratching into the paper. This technique makes the scene feel dramatic and mysterious. Want to see more like this? Look up etching to learn how artists create such detailed prints.
