St. Peter

By tradition Peter and Paul both died in Rome under the emperor Nero, and the Church still keeps one feast day for the two of them, 29 June. Pacher painted them as a pair for the base of the same altarpiece around 1465, and this is Peter's half. He holds the attribute that identifies him at once, a great key with an openwork bit. It recalls the Gospel of Matthew, where Christ promises him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Under his other arm is a red book with gilt edges. His type was fixed long before, a balding head with a fringe of grey curls and a short beard. Here he becomes a particular old man, with a lined forehead, reddened eyelids and lips just parted, looking off to one side as if someone had called to him.