Saint Peter

Saint Paul preaching

Vieira Lusitano (1699-1783),

1740 (dat.)

Oil on canvas

Inv. 847 and 848

These two paintings formed part of a series commissioned from Vieira Lusitano by the Count of Povolide between 1736 and 1740. Vieira Lusitano is one of the most interesting painters in the history of Portuguese art due to his troubled life and his synthesis of the classicising currents of the Roman school, where he trained, and Portuguese painting. Saint Peter holds a set of keys (his attribute) in his right hand and points with his left hand to a church door, where a stone plaque displaying an excerpt from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew can be glimpsed. Saint Paul is shown preaching, holding an excerpt from the Epistle to the Ephesians in his left hand, with the attributes that he is associated with placed nearby: the sword as a reminder of the means of his martyrdom, a money box and a chest, the latter two items alluding to his former profession as a tax collector. The influence of the Roman baroque is particularly apparent in the way that Vieira accentuates the facial expression of a man addressing a crowd, as well as playing with the expression conveyed by his hands and arms.