The Denial of Peter by Arturo Viligiardi

The theme of the 1888 competition was inspired by a passage from the Gospel: “But Peter replied, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about.’ And immediately, as he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the words the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’” In the scene, Peter, positioned to the left, gazes at Christ, who is being escorted by guards, with a troubled expression. The dramatic tension is heightened by the nocturnal setting, with strong light contrasts created by four sources of light: the moon, a fire, a lamp, and a torch.