The story of the denial of St. Peter depicted here follows the text of Matthew 26:69-70;"And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the maids of the high priest came; and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, 'You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus.' But he denied it saying, 'I neither know nor understand what you mean. 'And immediately, while he was speaking, the cock crowed' And Peter remembered the words of the Lord, how he had said to him, 'Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times'. And he went out and wept bitterly."
The story is also related in two other gospels: Mark 14:66 and Luke 22:54-62.The nocturnal fire as the setting is mentioned in all three accounts.
Frame: Italian early 17th century reverse cassetta profile frame
Gift of the Friends of the Institute and the John R. Van Derlip Fund 90.62
This painting illustrates a New Testament passage. A young maidservant accused the apostle Peter, in the yellow cloak, of knowing Jesus Christ. Fearing for his own safety, Peter denied the acquaintance.
While working in Italy, the Dutch artist Gerrit van Honthorst earned the nickname 'Gerard of the Night' for his dramatically lit night scenes. Like the Italian artist Caravaggio, whom he admired, Honthorst constructed psychologically intense paintings through the use of strong contrasts of light and shadow, close-ups of large plebeian figures, and expressive hand gestures.