Curatorial Notes
Wtewael depicted the moment after the Last Supper when the apostle Peter (at the left) denied knowing Jesus in order to protect himself from Roman soldiers searching for Christ's followers. Few works by this artist are known, and he draws on an unusual combination of styles. The dramatic use of light derives from Dutch followers of the Italian painter Caravaggio, in vogue around 1625, while the twisting bodies, startlingly low viewpoint, and tight detailing come from a more refined, courtly mode more popular earlier in the century.
Artwork Identification
Title The Denial of Peter
Title (PT) A negação de Pedro
Title (ES) La negación de Pedro
Artist Peter Wtewael
Artist Bio Peter Wtewael (Dutch, 1596–1660)
Date c. 1624–28
Work Type Painting
Location & Collection
Institution Cleveland Museum of Art
Source View Museum Page
License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
