Saint Peter Repentant by Georges de La Tour
Look first

Saint Peter Repentant

Georges de La Tour · 1645

One lamp, one sleepless face, and a rooster make remorse feel almost silent.

What to notice

Notice how the lantern light touches Peter's clasped hands and tired eyes while the surrounding room disappears into darkness.

Discover

La Tour reduced the biblical story of Peter's denial to a nocturnal moment of reflection. Simple forms and controlled artificial light replace action with psychological tension.

Source institution: Cleveland Museum of Art
Rights status: CC0 / Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access
Cleveland Museum of Art
Source & image rights verified for launch
Primary source