AFTER SIR ANTHONY VAN DYCK | The Martyrdom of Saint Peter

oil on canvas, unlined, unframed A later copy after the original canvas attributed to Van Dyck in the Musée des Beaux Arts, Brussels.1 Saint Peter, out of humility, asked his tormentors to crucify him head downwards so as not to die in the same way as Christ. Van Dyck must have seen this subject as a challenge: to paint an old man upside down only moments before his death, while still retaining his dignity. The original Brussels canvas by Van Dyck is dated to around 1615–16. This was very early in the young Van Dyck's career and the rough execution of the Brussels picture perhaps indicates that the young artist was trying to emulate the manner of the much-admired Italians; he strove to combine Caravaggio's realism with Titian's powerful palette. 1 https://www.fine-arts-museum.be/fr/la-collection/antoon-van-dyck-attribue-a-le-martyre-de-saint-pierre?string=van+dyck

All paintings available to view at the Sotheby’s Greenford Park warehouse, 5 - 7 and 10 – 13 September (10 - 4pm), by appointment. The canvas is unlined and the varnish is even but a little discoloured. There is one unrestored dent to the canvas at the upper right margin with tiny associated paint loss. There is a patch on the reverse which forms part of the restoration of a small old hole in the loin cloth of the Saint, covering his right thigh. There are a handful of very minor retouchings scattered throughout, and a distinct craquelure. In overall good condition.
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