The Bodies of Saints Peter and Paul Hidden in the Catacombs

Prints and Drawings

1647/51

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
Italian, 1609-1664

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione was one of the most original graphic artists of the 17th century, exchanging prints and ideas with his contemporary Rembrandt. This ambitious composition reflects the influence of Rembrandt’s luminous compositions in which Christian tales are transformed into something metaphysical. The subject derives from the Golden Legend of Jacobus de Voraigne, which suggests that the saints’ bodies were cast into a well near the clandestine catacomb vault, seen here in Castiglione’s dramatic rendering. The artist often etched such erudite subjects to advertise his art and prowess as a painter-philosopher to the literati in Rome and those on the grand tour.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Prints and Drawings

Artist: Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
Title: The Bodies of Saints Peter and Paul Hidden in the Catacombs
Place: Italy (Artist's nationality:)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 1647–1651
Medium: Etching and drypoint in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions: Image: 28.8 × 20.5 cm (11 3/8 × 8 1/8 in.); Plate: 28.9 × 20.6 cm (11 7/16 × 8 1/8 in.); Sheet: 30 × 20.8 cm (11 13/16 × 8 1/4 in.)
Credit Line: Purchased with funds provided by Mary A. Young
Reference Number: 2014.15
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/221699/manifest.json

Bartsch 14 I/I

Lewis 59 I/I

Percy E21 I/I

Bellini 57 I/I

Bartsch, illustrated 14 I/I

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The Bodies of Saints Peter and Paul Hidden in the Catacombs

Currently Off View

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Department

Artist

Title

Place

Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.

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IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.