The artwork titled “Crucifixion of St. Peter” was created by the renowned artist Masaccio in the year 1426. This Early Renaissance panel painting, executed with tempera, measures 22 by 31 cm and falls within the religious painting genre. It is part of the collection at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in Berlin, Germany.
The artwork depicts the martyrdom of St. Peter, captured with the vivid detail and emotional intensity characteristic of Masaccio’s work. In the foreground, St. Peter is shown inverted on the cross, a preference he was said to have requested to distinguish his crucifixion from that of Jesus Christ, believing himself unworthy to die in the same manner. His muscular form is tense with the strain and gravity of the situation, the artist’s mastery of anatomy and perspective evident even in this small-scale work.
Around St. Peter, several figures labor to erect the cross, hammering and lifting with palpable effort. Their clothing is modest, and they are rendered with a variety of postures and expressions, lending the scene a dynamic and realistic feel. The composition as a whole reflects the humanism of the Early Renaissance, with secular details and expressive figures that convey the drama of the narrative and draw the viewer into the immediate moment of the execution. The physical exertion of the figures is nearly palpable, emphasizing the somber gravity of the moment captured by the artist.
