HISTORY 3rd ESO

COMMENT ON ART WORKS

Baroque art

Crucifixion of Saint Peter

Author: Caravaggio

1) PERIOD
This painting is from the Baroque artistic period during the 17th and the 18th
centuries
2) THEME and NAME OF THE WORK
The theme is religious, specifically the crucifixion of Saint Peter. The religious theme
was usual in the Baroque of the Catholic countries. (Counter-reformation propaganda).
3) TECHNIQUE
Painting made in oil
4) AUTHOR and his/her NATIONALITY
The author is Caravaggio from Italy
5) DESCRIPTION OF THE PAINTING
We can see in the middle of the painting Saint Peter crucifixed. Around him we can see
three people putting the cross facing down. The background is dark, but the characters
 have light. Saint Peter asked for being crucified heading down because he wanted to
show that he was in a lower level in relation to Jesuschrist.

6) CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STYLE

- The painting is realistic because the proportions of the characters imitate nature
- The painting gives a feeling of movement and tension through diagonal lines.
- A warm light illuminates the characters to make the scene more intense. This
feature contrasts with the shadowy areas surrounding the characters (chiaroscuro)
- The depth is achieved with the position of the characters not with landscapes
- The face of Saint Peter and the muscles of all the characters are very expressive to
shock the audience and to capture the intensity of the moment.