ALTARPIECE OF SAINT PETER

STYLE 

The majority of the figures have weather-beaten, wide faces, large eyes and furrowed brows, short wide noses, prominent cheekbones and jaws and fleshy, but well-defined lips. In spite of his using these somewhat common facial characteristics, the artist has achieved a wide variety of expressions: the brutality reflected in the faces of the soldiers contrasts with the serene expression of Christ and the adoring gazes of the disciples in the Resurrection scene that, in turn, contrast with the dramatic expressions observed in the scene of the Crucifixion and the tension in the faces of the Virgin and St. John in the Road to Calvary.

Other figures, such as the angel with the censor standing next to Saint Peter, the faces of those people collecting the blood of Christ and the face of St. Catherine on the predella are all less gaunt, with sweeter expressions, slightly-almond-shaped eyes and thick curly hair.

The treatment of fabrics is also very contained: the number of pleats and folds is neither excessive, nor are borders very sharp. In some instances, they are even depicted in a curved, undulated fashion.