Who painted Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep?

Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep was painted by Claude Vignon in 1624-01-01.

Where can I see Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep?

Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep?

Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep?

Museum-quality prints of Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep

Claude Vignon , 1624

Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Claude Vignon. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows Christ speaking to Saint Peter, urging him to care for the faithful flock, a visual metaphor for pastoral authority and divine commission. The composition emphasizes the transfer of spiritual responsibility, linking the apostle’s role as shepherd of believers with the broader theme of sacrificial leadership in Christian doctrine.

Technique & Style

Vignon applied oil paint with a brush to the canvas support, creating layered brushwork that defines the figures and drapery.

The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, measuring 127 cm in height and 108 cm in width. Vignon applied oil paint with a brush to the canvas support, creating layered brushwork that defines the figures and drapery. The composition emphasizes Christ’s gesture of pointing toward Peter, rendered in a naturalistic yet restrained manner characteristic of early 17th-century religious painting.

The surface retains its original handling, with no significant cracks or losses noted in the cited condition reports.

Overview

Claude Vignon’s 1624 oil painting Christ Instructs Peter to Feed My Sheep presents a compact biblical scene in which Christ addresses the apostle Peter. Executed in the early Baroque idiom that Vignon absorbed during his Italian studies, the work combines a solemn narrative with a dramatic handling of light and shade.

History & Provenance

Created during Vignon’s mature period, the painting exemplifies his synthesis of French training and Italian Baroque exposure. Though specific ownership records are sparse, the work has been documented in French collections since the 18th century, indicating its continued relevance to religious art patrons of the era.

Context

The early 1620s saw a surge of Counter‑Reformation art that emphasized clear theological messages and emotional engagement. Vignon’s choice of the Christ‑Peter dialogue aligns with this agenda, offering a visual meditation on apostolic authority and pastoral duty that resonated with contemporary devotional practices.