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Saints Peter and Dorothy

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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Saint Peter clutches a Bible with a soft leather cover to his chest. In the same hand he holds two unwieldy keys – those to the kingdom of heaven, promised to him by Christ. Saint Dorothy holds only a tiny delicate flower to her breast, presumably plucked from the basket of blooms in her left hand. The flowers are a reference to a miracle told in her legend: at Dorothy’s martyrdom, Christ delivered a basket of flowers from heaven to an unbelieving onlooker. The artist has taken great care to imitate a range of textures faithfully, giving the impression that the saints really are standing before us. The highly polished marble column behind contrasts with the texture of the decorative textile hanging. The panel may have formed part of the left-hand shutter of an altarpiece.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

Saints Peter and Dorothy

Date

probably 1505-10

Medium

Oil on oak

Measurements

H 125.7 x W 71.1 cm

Accession number

NG707

Acquisition method

Presented by Queen Victoria at the Prince Consort's wish, 1863

Work type

Painting

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Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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