St. Peter Enthroned

12th-13th cent
Mosaic
Cathedral of the Assumption, Monreale, Sicily

Although the inscription is in Latin, the artist had followed the Orthodox tradition in giving St. Peter a book instead of the keys that are his attribute in the West. The curly hair is a common feature of Peter's portraits both east and west, as are the sandals and the short, square beard.

The inscription on the left is SANCTUS PETRUS PRINCEPS APOSTOLORUM, "Saint Peter Prince of Apostles." On the right: CUI TRADITE SUNT CLAVES REGNI CELORUM, "to whom were given the keys to the Kingdom of the Heavens."

View this image in full resolution.
Read more about St. Peter.

• Home Page
• Iconography of St. Peter
• This Picture

Photographed at the cathedral by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.