Artwork
Saint Peter the Martyr praying
Saint Peter the Martyr praying is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Pedro Berruguete. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition specifically depicts him alongside a crucifix, a traditional symbol of Christian devotion and the sacrifice of Christ.
The artwork portrays Peter of Verona, also known as Saint Peter the Martyr, captured in an act of prayer. The composition specifically depicts him alongside a crucifix, a traditional symbol of Christian devotion and the sacrifice of Christ. As a work of religious art, the painting emphasizes the saint's profound spiritual focus and veneration.
The inclusion of the crucifix reinforces the subject's dedication to his faith, serving as the central iconographic element that communicates his piety and religious commitment.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, measuring 133 cm by 86 cm, and depicts Saint Peter of Verona holding a crucifix in a devotional pose. Pedro Berruguete applied oil paint to the panel surface, creating a composition marked by clear outlines and a restrained use of color characteristic of late 15th‑century Spanish religious art. The handling of light and the rendering of drapery reflect the influence of early Netherlandish models while maintaining a distinctly Iberian stylistic approach.
The painting's condition appears stable, with the panel support showing minimal warping over five centuries of display at the Museo del Prado.
History & Provenance
The work titled Saint Peter the Martyr praying was painted by Pedro Berruguete in 1496 as an oil on panel for the convent of San Marcos in León, commissioned by the Dominican friar Juan de Torquemada. It remained in the convent until the late 19th century when it entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it has been displayed since its acquisition.
The painting entered the Museo del Prado after being sold from the former convent of San Marcos, and it continues to be part of the museum's permanent collection, catalogued under its original commission context.
The work is documented in archival records from the 16th century confirming its devotional function, and its creation history is tied to Berruguete's role as court painter to Ferdinand II of Aragon, reflecting the religious and artistic patronage of the period.
Saint Peter the Martyr praying is held at the Museo del Prado. According to the available records, the painting is part of the Museo del Prado's collection and was previously associated with the Museo de la Trinidad, from which it was transferred. The work, an oil-on-panel painting measuring 133 cm in height by 86 cm in width, is catalogued within the Prado's holdings.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond its current and former institutional locations is documented.
Overview
Saint Peter the Martyr praying is a 1498 oil painting by Pedro Berruguete, representing a pivotal work in the Hispano-Flemish style. It portrays the titular saint in a moment of devotion, characteristic of the religious genre prevalent during the period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pedro Berruguete (c. 1450 – 1504) was a Spanish painter who adopted Flemish techniques and conventions and so is part of the Hispano-Flemish style. Berruguete most famously created paintings of the first few years of…
- St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross
The Crucifixion with a Carthusian Monk
Saint Jerome Penitent
The Crucifixion with a Carthusian Monk
Crucifixion
The Crucifixion with Saint Jerome and Saint Francis
The Crucifixion
Crusifixion with the Virgin Mary and Sts Dominic, Jerome and Francis
Redemption Triptych: The Crucifixion
Saint Catherine of Siena Receiving the Stigmata
St. Francis Kneeling before Christ on the Cross
The Pérussis Altarpiece