The Denial of St. Peter

Gerard Seghers

1620-1625

77.5 x 115.5 cm

Oil on canvas

Caravaggism

Private collection, sold before 1770 (Hoet, Terwesten 1770, III, p. 241, no. 47; Pigler 1956, p. 334; Bieneck 1992, no. B 120)

Seems that “The Denial of Saint Peter” theme have been especially dear to Gerard Seghers and his audience, since more than ten versions of it are known. It gave Seghers the opportunity for a similar genre treatment and description of the nighttime setting. According to the four Gospels (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18), Jesus predicted during the Last Supper with his disciples that Peter would reject him, stating that Peter would betray him before the rooster crows in the morning. Indeed, after the arrest of Jesus, Peter denied three times that he knew him, but after the third denial, he heard the rooster and remembered the prediction.

In this painting, Seghers shows the moment when the servant, turned to Peter, accuses him of being a disciple of Christ, pointing at him with her right finger. Peter denies the accusation, placing one hand on his chest. Meanwhile, the soldier grabs him and draws his sword. This item allowed Seghers to show his virtuosity in depicting flesh and blood people in various facial expressions.

In this case, Seghers increased the expressiveness of the figures with the help of a disguised candle. Seghers borrowed this method from one of the images of the same plot by Gerard van Honthorst, which was an essential source of inspiration.