Jacopo di Cione

This painting was part of a predella, the lower portion of a multi-part altarpiece commissioned for the church of San Pier Maggiore in Florence. In this scene the Roman governor commands Peter’s arrest. As soldiers seize Peter, he raises his right hand in a gesture that suggests both benediction and resignation. In its original setting, this painting and the many images that accompanied it presented a complex narrative. Hung in a dim space and lit by candles, the complete altarpiece would have offered worshippers a visually and spiritually powerful experience.

For this important commission, Jacopo di Cione’s workshop employed numerous artists who specialized in painting, carving, and gilding.