The Denial of Christ by St. Peter

ca. 1951-1952, sold by Arcade Gallery (London, England) to Benedict Nicolson (London, England); 26 June 1957, sold by Nicolson at Sotheby’s (London, England) auction [Lot 92] to Mr. and Mrs. Marc B. Rojtman (Milwaukee, WI); November 1959, gifted to the University of Wisconsin–Madison; 1967, transferred to Elvehjem Art Center [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

• Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Artscene." Fall, 1995. no. 6
• "SchoolsMusuemsART (SMART) Project." Madison, WI: Madison Metropolitan School District, 2002.

This painting depicts a dramatic scene illuminated by the warm glow of firelight. The composition is crowded with a group of people reacting to a central conflict involving a helmeted soldier, a woman, and Saint Peter. To the right of center, a woman with blonde hair and alabaster skin wears a white and red garment. She is brightly illuminated by an unseen light source, drawing the viewer’s eye. She reaches her arm toward Saint Peter who stands beside her. Her face turns toward a soldier wearing a helmet and armor, who, along with another man, leans toward her and Saint Peter, creating an intimidating presence. On the far right, Saint Peter leans away from the soldiers with a concerned expression. His face is partially illuminated, revealing his gray hair, full beard and blue tunic with a brown cloak. In the foreground, a shadowy figure kneels with their back to the viewer, grasping Saint Peter’s cloak. On the left, a young man with a thin mustache points toward Saint Peter. The shocked expression on his face is lit from below by a single candle on a table, which also holds playing cards. Other onlookers emerge from the dark background, pointing and gesturing toward the central figures with shocked expressions Spears, hats, and raised hands emerge from the shadows. The strong contrast between light and dark creates a sense of drama and theatricality, pulling the viewer into the scene. The brightly lit faces and hands of the central figures draw attention to their expressions and gestures, while the deep shadows make the figures seem to emerge from the darkness. The rich, dark colors, including deep browns, blues, and reds, contribute to the painting’s intense and emotional atmosphere.

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