Saint Peter and Saint Paul, National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC), Barcelona at Spain is culture.

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Outstanding works / Renaissance / National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)

Saint Peter and Saint Paul

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Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Barcelona © MNAC – National Art Museum of Catalonia

Category

Painting

Date

1590-1600

Artist

El Greco

Cultural background

Mannerism

Original title

San Pedro y San Pablo

National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC)
Barcelona
Barcelona, Catalonia

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This painting provides us with an excellent opportunity to appreciate El Greco's Mannerist and Venetian colours.

The meeting of the apostles Peter and Paul after their falling out is the main subject matter of the painting. This fact is implied by the greeting hands, which cross each other but do not enter into contact. Peter, depicted as a tired old man seems to be making a yielding gesture, or one of acknowledgement, to Paul, who is proudly wielding the sword, a common feature of his iconography. Behind them, the clouds opening out onto to blue sky highlight their aura of saintliness. The work reflects the great richness of colour and plot for which the Cretan master is famous.