Cnytr: St. Peter Martyr vrs. Heresy -- shh!

{Thursday, June 23, 2005 }

.:{St. Peter Martyr vrs. Heresy -- shh!}:.

If you've been paying attention, you know this saint, of course. Sometimes unsettling, sometimes disturbing, sometimes nonchalant, sometimes seemingly unaware, and sometimes writing the word "Credo" with his own blood (would you believe I cannot find a picture of this anywhere?). But there is a particularly famous Fra Angelico image often called "Peter Martyr Enjoins Silence":

This image is painted in the Monastery of San Marco in Florence in the space between the top of the door and the top of the archway as one enters the sanctuary of the church from the cloisters. My first reaction was somewhere between "how clever" and "Aww, isn't that cute".

But St. Peter Martyr wasn't killed because he was cute or clever.

I was looking through the aforementioned Holy Cards book, and learned something interesting: Fra Angelico's depiction of St. Peter Martyr with a finger to his mouth is not unique. In fact, it used to be that St. Peter Martyr was often depicted with a finger to his mouth ... to silence heresy.

All together now: That's AWESOME!

posted by Lauren, 11:04 AM

3 Comments:

Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures and delightful lore about St Peter Martin. Don't you think a few more shushings might be in order nowadays! By the way, you have a delightful blog: I've just started this blogging thing--rather unusual for a fellow who writes with a fountain pen. Best of wish to you, and check out my blog at perrylorenzo.blogspot.com

commented by

Perry Lorenzo, 2:06 PM

The description of the Bellini in London's National Gallery

The Assassination of Saint Peter Martyr

says 'His last action, shown here, affirms his faith - he is writing "credo" ("I believe"), in his own blood.'

commented by

chattr, 8:04 AM

Another image is from the Sforza Hours in the British Library:

St. Peter Martyr.

commented by

chattr, 8:19 AM