An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Saint Peter Repentant1645
Georges de La Tour
During Jesus’s arrest on the night of the Last Supper, the apostle Peter denied knowing him. Although Christ forgave his betrayal, Peter was consumed by guilt. La Tour represents Peter as an old man, reflecting on his past actions in a state of perpetual repentance. The apostle’s red-rimmed eyes and the uncertain light of the lantern suggest anxious sleepless nights; muted colors and simple forms give visual expression to Peter’s somber emotions. Unlike other artists inspired by Caravaggio, La Tour worked in relative isolation in northeastern France, and his connection to his Italian counterpart remains unclear.
The rooster next to Peter is a reference to Jesus's prediction that Peter will betray him, stating: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."
oil on canvas
Framed: 140.3 x 119.1 x 7 cm (55 1/4 x 46 7/8 x 2 3/4 in.); Unframed: 114 x 95 cm (44 7/8 x 37 3/8 in.)
Gift of the Hanna Fund
In the quiet hours following the Last Supper, a shadow loomed over the bustling city, where laughter had danced moments before. It was a night cloaked in tension, as darkness settled in. In a dimly lit corner, within the very heart of betrayal, the air was heavy with unspoken regrets. Peter, one of Christ’s most devoted apostles, faced an agonizing moment of human frailty—a denial that would echo throughout history.
Years later, La Tour captured this poignant moment in time, but not in the vibrant hues that often illuminated stories of triumph. Instead, he reached for subdued tones, crafting an image that spoke not of glory, but of sorrow. He portrayed Peter as an old man, his face marked by the passage of time, each wrinkle a testament to battles fought and lost. The canvas was a reflection of a soul burdened with guilt, tangled in the web of his own choices.
Peter’s red-rimmed eyes told a tale of sleepless nights, the result of wrestled conscience. They glistened like embers in a dying fire, flickering under the uncertain glow of a solitary lantern. This light, cast hesitantly across his aged features, seemed to whisper the weight of his shame. It drew out the muted colors around him—each stroke a heartbreaking reminder of his somber emotions, of a life lived in the shadow of a moment that had defined him.
Unlike artists who flourished in the bustling studios of Italy, La Tour worked in solitude, nestled in the serene northeastern landscapes of France. His isolation bore a unique significance; while the legacy of Caravaggio inspired many, La Tour’s interpretation of Peter transcended mere mimicry. It became a voyage into the depths of the heart, an exploration of repentance and the quiet quest for redemption.
In reflecting on his past, Peter became a vessel for all who have felt the crushing weight of regret. His eyes, haunted yet hopeful, serve as a mirror for viewers—inviting them to ponder their own paths, to seek solace in the powerful embrace of forgiveness. Thus, La Tour's painting stands not merely as a work of art, but as a silent testament to the complexity of human emotion, echoing the truth that we are all shaped by our stories, and the choices we make along the way.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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