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Article: Classroom use.(discussion of El Greco's The Penitent Saint Peter)
- Article from:
- Arts & Activities
- Article date:
- March 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Publishers' Development Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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THIS FACE
This portrait shows El Greco's idea about the looks and feelings of Saint Peter, the most important of Jesus Christ's disciples and the leader of Christianity after Christ was crucified. The saint is asking God to forgive him for all the weaknesses he showed during his life. Even though he was the most trustworthy of Christ's 12 disciples, he begs for forgiveness.
The figure has his hands clasped in prayer. His eyes are raised, yearning, toward heaven. The style of painting is like most of El Greco's paintings, in that the face and robes are brightly lit on the upper surfaces but extremely dark in the shadow areas. The figure is the only ...