Magnificent oil on canvas from the beginning of the 17th century, entourage of Guido Reni (1575-1642), school of Bologna. On its original canvas. 
 The work comes here to symbolize the repentance of the Holy Man, hands joined, gaze towards the sky, tears visible.
 It is the representation of the moment when Saint Peter, one of the first two disciples of Christ, repents of having denied Christ. Indeed, we all know that Christ was betrayed by Judah, but we know less that he was also, to a lesser extent, by Saint Peter. Jesus had predicted it to him: "In truth I say to you, that in this same night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times". And in fact, after the arrest of Christ, Saint Peter denied knowing him three times.

 Topic  quite popular and very represented in painting in the 17th century. 
 Indeed, following the Council of Trent, painters are encouraged to represent the Saints who are models for men and especially who show the way to salvation. In this context, the repentance of Saint Peter acquires a very strong meaning since it shows a fallible man, in the process of repenting and who will subsequently become the  prince of the apostles. 

 This type of bust portrait representing a Saint or an Apostle praying, reading or writing, is an exercise in style to which Guido Reni has very often lent himself, finding there a way to exercise his virtuosity in the art of representing details. of these figures and the expression of their feelings. These holy figures are generally more of a psychological portrait than a physical one. These shamelessly exposing their tormented or serene faces to the viewer. 
 Among these portrait galleries, Carlo Cesare Malvasia (writer and art historian of the 17th century) notes the ease with which Guido Reni represents the figure of the old man, like this magnificent "The Tears of Saint Peter" . The face turned towards the sky, the joined hands and stripped of his attributes, only the distress of the old man makes it possible to recognize the holy man.

 Oil on rectangular canvas which was originally intended for a medallion frame. 
 Beautiful state of conservation, on its canvas and its original frame. Without supervision. 

 Dimensions of the canvas:  73 cm  /  58.5cm

 BIBLIOGRAPHY : 
 -CC. MALVASIA, Felsina pittrice: vite de pittori bolognesi, Bologna, 1841
 -Cesare GARBOLI, L'Opera Completa di Guido Reni, Rizzoli Editore, Milan, 1971, plate 187 p. 111. 
 -Gérard Julien SALVY, Guido Reni, Gallimard, 2001, p. 124.