St. Peter

Saint Peter is depicted twice: in the foreground as a monumental figure holding his traditional keys and a book, and in the center being bound to a cross by muscular executioners. The scene unfolds in a detailed Roman setting featuring a triumphal column, classical buildings, and a mounted official presiding over the event. The engraving displays the high-contrast lighting and exaggerated physical forms typical of early Dutch Mannerism.

This work represents the collaboration between designer Marten de Vos and engraver Hendrick Goltzius, reflecting the Counter-Reformation's focus on the authority and history of the Roman Church. While primarily religious, it demonstrates the technical virtuosity and anatomical precision that would later define the esoteric and philosophical works of the Haarlem Mannerists.