Italian school; 17th century.

Italian school; XVII century.
"The Martyrdom of St. Peter".
Oil on copper.
It has a period frame.
Measurements: 22 x 17 cm; 32 x 27 cm (frame).
This work of the Italian school of the XVII century represents the Crucifixion of St. Peter, made in oil on copper and conceived within the classicist language of the Italian Baroque. The composition is directly inspired by the models of Guido Reni, whose influence is recognized in the serenity of the forms, the compositional clarity and the idealization of the characters.
The scene shows the moment of martyrdom of the apostle Peter, crucified face down, in compliance with his request not to die in the same way as Christ. The figure of the saint occupies the center of the composition and is organized with a balanced sense of space, avoiding excessive dramatism and opting for a contained representation, with a strong spiritual charge. The body is modeled with attention to the anatomical ideal, but without abandoning the dignity and expressive nobility typical of Bolognese classicism. The treatment of light and color reinforces this sense of balance: the hallmarks are soft and the lighting seems to direct attention to the main figure without breaking the overall harmony of the scene. The copper support contributes to the precision of detail and chromatic intensity, characteristics highly appreciated in small-format painting intended for private devotion.
Reni's influence is manifested in the search for restrained beauty, compositional balance and refined spirituality, moving away from the dramatic excesses of other contemporary baroque trends.