St Peter Walking on the Water by Alessandro Allori, Matthew 14:25-31, Bible.Gallery
St Peter Walking on the Water is a oil on canvas painting by Alessandro Allori (1535–1607), created in c. 1590. Measuring 158 × 117 cm, it depicts the biblical scene from Matthew 14:25-31.
Artwork Description
Alessandro Allori's "Saint Peter Walking on Water" captures the dramatic biblical moment from Matthew 14:25-31, when Peter, emboldened by faith, steps out of the boat to walk across the turbulent Sea of Galilee toward Christ. The scene unfolds in the fourth watch of the night, as Jesus approaches his disciples walking on the water. Peter, initially confident in his ability to mirror his Master's miracle, begins to sink as doubt creeps into his heart, crying out "Lord, save me!" before Christ reaches out to rescue him.
Allori's masterful composition demonstrates the hallmarks of late Mannerist style, with elongated figures and sophisticated color harmonies that create both drama and spiritual intensity. The artist employs a dynamic interplay of light and shadow to emphasize the supernatural nature of the event, with Christ's luminous presence contrasting against the dark, churning waters. Peter's figure, caught between faith and fear, serves as the emotional focal point, his outstretched arms conveying both desperate supplication and unwavering trust. The carefully rendered details of the boat and the disciples' varied expressions reflect Allori's training under Bronzino and his commitment to combining idealized forms with observational accuracy.
The painting serves as a profound meditation on faith, doubt, and divine mercy—themes that resonated deeply with Counter-Reformation spirituality. Allori's interpretation transforms this New Testament episode into a visual theology, where Peter's momentary faltering becomes a universal symbol of human weakness redeemed by divine grace. The work exemplifies the artist's ability to breathe life into religious narrative while maintaining the sophisticated elegance that characterized Florentine Mannerism, making it both a devotional image and a masterpiece of sixteenth-century Italian art.