Interior of Saint Peter's, Rome
The Met
Artist: Giovanni Paolo Panini(Italian, Piacenza 1691–1765 Rome)
Date: after 1754
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 29 1/8 x 39 1/4 in. (74 x 99.7 cm)
Credit Line: Purchase, 1871
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
Ornate cathedral interior with towering columns, a golden altar under a high dome, and many small figures
Detailed Description
The vast, ornate interior of a grand cathedral is viewed from a slightly elevated perspective, looking towards the main altar. Towering grey-white columns and pilasters, adorned with intricate carvings and statues, dominate the space, supporting a series of high arches and vaulted ceilings. The ceilings and domes are richly decorated with geometric patterns, frescoes, and hanging tapestries in muted gold, grey, and light blue hues. In the distance, beneath a large central dome, a prominent golden altar with a tall, spiraling canopy is visible. Around the base of this dome, the Latin inscription "TV ES PETRVS ET SVPER HANC PETRAM AEDIFICABO ECCLESIAM MEAM" appears. The expansive floor is covered with a geometric pattern of light and dark grey squares and circles. Numerous small figures, dressed in long coats, breeches, and dresses, populate the floor. These individuals wear a variety of colorful garments, including reds, blues, greens, pinks, and browns, alongside some figures in black and brown clerical robes. They are engaged in various activities: standing, walking, conversing in small groups, and some are kneeling or sitting directly on the patterned floor. The figures appear small in comparison to the immense architectural space. Bright light illuminates the interior, revealing the architectural details and the figures below.
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