About the Artwork
During the Gothic period in northern Germany, images of the Twelve Apostles were frequently included in the decoration of altarpieces, either within the structure itself or below on the predella. Although the apostles are missing their traditional attributes, the key for Saint Peter and the sword for Saint Paul, they are each identified by an inscription on the base. Eight of the original group of Twelve Apostles to which these gilt bronzes belonged survive in various collections. They are unusually large and finely cast in high relief, datable by stylistic comparison to wood sculptures to approximately the middle of the fourteenth century. It is likely that these pieces were made for an altar in Lower Saxony, a region with a long medieval history of high quality metalwork.
Saint Peter
early 14th century
----------
----------
German
German
Gilded bronze
Overall: 12 3/4 × 4 × 1 3/4 inches (32.4 × 10.2 × 4.4 cm)
Sculpture
European Sculpture and Dec Arts
Gift of Anne and Henry Ford II
58.379
This work is in the public domain.
Markings
Inscribed: PETRVSAP..
Provenance
Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
(Rosenberg & Stiebel, New York, New York, USA)
Anne and Henry Ford II
1958-present, gift to the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)
For more information on provenance and its important function in the museum, please visit:
Provenance pageExhibition History
Please note: This section is empty
The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.
We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.
Suggest FeedbackPublished References
The Waning of the Middle Ages. Exh. cat., Pomona College, Montgomery Art Center. Claremont, 1965, no 19.
Hackenbroch, Yvonne. Bronzes and Other Metalwork and Sculpture in the Irwin Untermyer Collection. London, 1962 (figs. 97-98).
Sammlung Kofler-Truniger. Email, Goldschmiede und Metallarbeiten. Lucerne, 1965, no E137.
Medieval Enamels and Sculptures from the Keir Collection. Exh. cat., Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Kansas City, 1983, no. 100.
The Thomas F. Flannery Jr. Collection: Medieval and Later Works of Art. Sales cat., Sotheby Parke Bernet. London, December 1-2, 1983, p. 24.
Kindly share your feedback or any additional information, as this record is still a work in progress and may need further refinement.
Suggest FeedbackCatalogue Raisoneé
Please note: This section is empty
Credit Line for Reproduction
German, Saint Peter, early 14th century, gilded bronze. Detroit Institute of Arts, Gift of Anne and Henry Ford II, 58.379.
Feedback
We regularly update our object record as new research and findings emerge, and we welcome your feedback for correction or improvement.
Suggest Feedback
