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Secondary sourcePainting1590–1600

Saint Peter and Saint Paul

El Greco · 1590–1600

A painting by El Greco pairing Paul with Peter, contrasting their characters and symbols.

Paired with Peter, Paul is shown holding a sword, the traditional symbol of his martyrdom.

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Painting of two bearded apostles against a cloudy grey sky with blue patches. The older man on the left, with white hair and beard, wears a golden-brown cloak and gestures with his hands. The man on the right wears a pink-red cloak over a green robe and holds a sword upright.
El Greco, Saint Peter and Saint Paul, c. 1590–1600. Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, Barcelona.

About this source

What it is

Painted between 1590 and 1600 by the Cretan-Spanish artist El Greco, this work hangs in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, which bought it in 1932. It shows the apostles Peter and Paul together, a subject El Greco had painted before.

Why it matters

The painting contrasts the two apostles: Peter, older, holds the keys of heaven, while Paul holds a sword, a symbol of his martyrdom. Their crossed but untouching hands may hint at disagreement between them, reflecting real theological debates among early Christian leaders. The painting also shows El Greco's mature style, influenced by his training in Venice.

Why it matters

Look closer

  • What might the position of the two men's hands suggest about their relationship?
  • Why does Paul hold a sword while Peter holds keys?
  • How does the lighting and sky add to the mood of the scene?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Paul on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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