18th century Flemish school. "The denial of St. Peter". Oil on copper. Presents restorations and Repainting. Measurements: 22 x 17 cm; 32 x 27 cm (frame). Thematically this work shows the biblical theme of the Denial of St. Peter, related to the Cycle of the Passion of Christ and that appears in the New Testament, in which Christ prophesies at the last supper, where he announced to the apostle that, despite being his faithful follower, before the rooster crowed on the day of the Crucifixion he would have denied him three times. St. Peter (Bethsaida, c. 1 B.C. - Rome, 67) was, according to the New Testament, a fisherman, known for being one of Jesus' twelve apostles. The Catholic Church identifies him through the apostolic succession as the first Pope, based, among other arguments, on the words addressed to him by Jesus: "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the power of Death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." St. Peter could be said to have been Jesus' confessor, his closest disciple, both being united by a very special bond, as narrated in both the canonical and apocryphal Gospels.