Saint Peter and Saint Paul (El Greco, Barcelona) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Peter and Saint Paul |
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| Spanish: San Pedro y San Pablo | |
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| Artist | El Greco |
| Year | 1590-1600 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 116 cm × 91.8 cm (46 in × 36.1 in) |
| Location | Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona |
Saint Peter and Saint Paul is a famous painting by the artist El Greco. He was born in Crete, which is part of Greece, but he spent most of his life in Spain. He finished this painting between 1590 and 1600. Today, you can see it at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. The museum bought this artwork in 1932.
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What the Painting Shows
El Greco painted Saint Peter and Saint Paul while he was living in Toledo, Spain. The painting shows two important figures from the Bible: Peter and Paul. They were both apostles of Jesus.
The painting uses bright, modern colors. El Greco learned these techniques when he studied in Venice, Italy. He made it look like a bright light or "halo" was around the saints' heads. He did this by painting an intense blue opening in the clouds behind them.
Look closely at their hands. They are crossed but not touching. This might show that the two saints had different ideas or even a small disagreement. Peter, who looks older, is on the left side. He is gesturing towards Paul, which could mean he is giving in or agreeing with Paul.
About the Artist: El Greco
Doménikos Theotokópoulos was born around 1541 in Heraklion, Crete. People called him El Greco, which is Italian for "The Greek." This nickname shows where he came from and that he spent time in Italy.
In the 1560s, El Greco moved to Venice, Italy. There, he learned how to paint from a famous artist named Titian. He picked up many skills from the Renaissance painting style. In 1577, El Greco moved to Toledo, Spain. He created many of his most famous paintings there. He passed away in Toledo in April 1614.
Today, El Greco is seen as a big influence on art styles like Cubism and Expressionism. Famous artists such as Picasso and Cézanne were inspired by his work.
Who Are Saint Peter and Saint Paul?
Saint Peter
The person on the left side of El Greco's painting is Saint Peter. In the Bible, Peter was one of the first followers that Jesus called. The Bible says that Jesus told Peter he would build his church on him. Jesus also said he would give Peter "the keys of the kingdom of heaven."
In this painting, El Greco shows Peter holding these keys of heaven in his left hand. This is a special symbol for Saint Peter.
Saint Paul
On the right side of the painting is Saint Paul. Paul wrote many parts of the Bible and helped start many Christian churches. He was born Jewish. He became a Christian after he had a special experience where he saw Jesus.
In El Greco's painting, Paul is holding a sword. This sword is a symbol of how he died for his Christian beliefs. He was a martyr, meaning he died for his faith.
The Museum Where It Lives
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya bought El Greco's Saint Peter and Saint Paul in 1932. It was part of a very large collection of art. The museum bought this collection from a Catalan politician named Lluis Plandiura. His art collection was one of the most important in Spain at that time. It had almost 2000 pieces, including paintings, sculptures, and old archaeological items.
See also
- List of works by El Greco
