The martyrdom of Saint Paul and the condemnation of Saint Peter

Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)|Antonio Salamanca|Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio

1524–27 · Engraving; third state of three · Drawings and Prints

Engraved just before the Sack of Rome in 1527, this print is the result of the collaboration of the Italian Mannerist artist Parmigianino and the skilled engraver Caraglio. A number of drawings by Parmigianino relating to the composition survive, including the actual model used by Caraglio to transfer the design to the plate (British Museum, London). Parmigianino may have created this design to decorate the Sala dei Pontefici in the Vatican—a commission that was never realized—though that is far from certain. The engraving shows the moments preceding the execution ordered by Emperor Nero of the apostles Peter and Paul. Saint Peter kneels in the foreground before his executioner, while behind him Saint Paul is pulled away by his beard to be crucified. A drawing by Parmigianino depicting an apparition of Christ in the Metrpolitan Museum (65.112.2) is drawn on the back of a fragment of an impression of Caraglio's print. The fragment of the print is the section showing Jupiter and the eagle from the upper right.

Artist

Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)|Antonio Salamanca|Giovanni Jacopo Caraglio

Date

1524–27

Medium

Engraving; third state of three

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953