School of iconography
Reading a painting.
A single key can reveal Saint Peter. Learn to recognise the saints in the Apostles course, then test your eye on works from museum collections.
54 open-access lessons
On viewPietro Perugino · 1481–1482
Iconography course
The twelve apostles.
Who receives the keys? Who holds the square? Study the paintings, learn to tell the Twelve apart and put your eye to the test.
Entire course free · 10 modules · 54 lessons
Explore the courseOn the cover · Pietro Perugino
Go to the first lesson The Delivery of the Keys
Among the standing figures, Peter kneels before Christ. Trace the line between their hands to the keys. That small object gives the whole scene its name.
Comparative study
Peter and Paul.
Rubens painted both apostles. Look at their hands. Peter holds the keys and Paul grips a sword.
Compare the two figures
Attribute cabinet
Objects of the saints.
Two keys identify Saint Peter. In Perugino’s fresco, Christ gives them to him at the centre of the piazza.
See Saint Peter
The keys
The collection
Visit the library 
