Christ speaking with Saint Peter, who kneels before him in adoration and with his hands joined in prayer, while the Apostles draw up their nets behind him
Original title: Christ speaking with Saint Peter, who kneels before him in adoration and with his hands joined in prayer, while the Apostles draw up their nets behind him, after Raphael's Stanza dell'incendio del Borgo, from a series of 15 plates, depicting Raphael's works for the Vatican stanze and the Sistine Chapel tapestries
kurzbeschreibung
Pietro Santi Bartoli made this etching between 1650 and 1670. It depicts Christ speaking with Peter, who kneels before him in prayer with folded hands, while the apostles haul in their nets behind them. The scene derives from a design by Raphael for the Stanza dell'incendio del Borgo. The print belongs to a series of 15 etchings reproducing Raphael's works for the Vatican Stanze and the tapestries of the Sistine Chapel.
Description
A boat sets the stage, placed almost at the center of the image. Christ stands in the middle, facing Peter, who kneels to the left with hands clasped. On the right side of the boat, the apostles lift their nets. All figures wear biblical garments. The arrangement feels balanced, and light falls evenly across the scene.
Context
Bartoli, an Italian engraver of the Baroque, devoted himself mainly to the graphic reproduction of ancient and Renaissance art. The series to which this sheet belongs documented Raphael's frescoes in the Vatican Stanze and the cartoons for the Sistine Chapel tapestries. Such reproductive prints helped spread Raphael's art beyond Rome.
Impact
With its delicate lines and balanced layout, the etching conveys a calm, dignified mood. The biblical subject feels classic and recalls Renaissance painting, reinforcing the sacred character.
Technique
The sheet is an etching, evident from the fine lines and hatching that model the figures and setting. This technique allows precise details and an even distribution of light. The paper measures 11.6 × 28.8 cm, the plate 10.4 × 27 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)