Description
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter belongs to the apostolic cycle painted in the transept of the Upper Basilica at Assisi. Peter is shown crucified upside down according to the tradition that he asked to die differently from Christ because he considered himself unworthy of sharing the same form of death.
The cross occupies the central axis, while groups of witnesses and architectural landmarks fill the surrounding space. Peter's inverted body immediately identifies the episode and gives the martyrdom a powerful visual character. Two monuments evoke ancient Rome. The Meta Romuli and the so-called Terebinth of Nero act as topographical signs identifying the city and making the urban setting an active component of the narrative. The design belongs to the program developed under his direction, but substantial workshop execution is generally recognized.
