Saint Peter as the First Pope
Unknown Artist
before 1348
Medium
Pine partially covered with canvas, gesso, and paint
Dimensions
Overall: 79 x 22 5/8 x 13 in. (200.7 x 57.5 x 33 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Wood
Culture
Catalan
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1926
Accession Number
27.18.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This imposing wooden sculpture, *Saint Peter as the First*, hails from medieval Catalonia and dates to before 1348. Standing nearly seven feet tall (79 inches), it depicts the apostle Peter, revered in Christianity as the foundational leader of the Church and the first pope. Clad in papal vestments with keys symbolizing his authority to bind and loose on earth and in heaven, the figure exudes solemn dignity, likely created for a church altar, processional use, or devotional setting in the vibrant Gothic-era culture of northeastern Spain. Crafted from pine wood—a durable, locally abundant mate...