Painting On Wood, Ancient Icon Of Saint Peter And Paul

Antique tempera on cedar wood depicting the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul holding a model of a church.
The panel is original from the period. The back has been smoothed over in the early 20th century. The painting shows no pictorial restorations.
Period: 18th century.
Measures: 41 cm x 31 cm. Thickness: 3 cm.

The painting shows the two saints side by side, both with golden halos. Their physical appearance corresponds to traditional iconography: Saint Peter, on the left, has short hair and a white beard, while Saint Paul, on the right, has a broad bald forehead and a long, pointed beard. In the center, the two saints hold a model of a church. This iconographic element symbolizes the unity and harmony of the two apostles in the founding and spreading of the Church. Another notable feature in the painting is the presence of a beam of divine light descending from above and illuminating the two saints and the model of the church.

Paintings with this iconography, in which Saints Peter and Paul hold a model of a church, were created at different times. Research indicates that this type of tempera on panel, especially those depicting the two apostles, was common in the 18th century. In early Christian images and in the iconography of the "Concordia Apostolorum" of the 4th century, the two saints are depicted embracing or facing each other to symbolize unity. Later, after the Council of Trent, the theme of the meeting between the two saints was revisited by various artists.