Saint Peter Preaching in Samaria and Denouncing Simon the Sorcerer thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sacred Silver & Stained Glass, Room 83, The Whiteley Galleries

Saint Peter Preaching in Samaria and Denouncing Simon the Sorcerer

Roundel
ca. 1520 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book in the New Testament. It records some of the activities of the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ after his Resurrection. Christ had instructed his Apostles to travel and preach his teachings.

Simon is described in Acts as a sorcerer. Many people at this time practised magic, which was denounced by the civil authorities as well as by the followers of Jesus. Earlier, the Apostle Philip had been preaching in Samaria (in Jordan) and had converted Simon to the new faith, with many others. The Apostles Peter and John heard of this success and travelled to Samaria to continue the work that Philip started.

The roundel depicts Peter preaching to a crowd in the city of Samaria. In spite of his conversion to Christianity, Simon was still interested in magic. Here we see him offering money to Peter to learn the secret of the miracles he had been performing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSaint Peter Preaching in Samaria and Denouncing Simon the Sorcerer (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Stained glass with painted details
Brief description
Sainted and painted glass roundel depicting St Peter Preaching in Samaria and Denouncing Simon the Sorcerer. Made in Flanders about 1520.
Physical description
St. Peter, wearing a white gown with gold trim, is leaning out from a pulpit on the left side of the roundel. He gestures towards a man who stands in the midst of a crowd sitting on the ground listening to St. Peter. The man holds something in his right hand. There is a crenellated townscape in the background. The scene is encased in a border composed of a green man head, foliage and fruit and peacocks with scrolls.

The whole executed in brown/black pigment and yellow stain.
Dimensions
  • Sight diameter: 35.7cm
  • Framed height: 38.7cm
  • Framed width: 38.5cm
  • Framed depth: 3.2cm
  • Framed weight: 3.0kg
Marks and inscriptions
illegible (There are four peacocks holding scrolls with text on them. Cannot make out the text.)
Credit line
Soulages Collection
Object history
Formerly in the Soulages Collection.
Subjects depicted
Place depicted
Literary references
  • New Testament
  • Acts of the Apostles
Summary
The Acts of the Apostles is the fifth book in the New Testament. It records some of the activities of the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ after his Resurrection. Christ had instructed his Apostles to travel and preach his teachings.

Simon is described in Acts as a sorcerer. Many people at this time practised magic, which was denounced by the civil authorities as well as by the followers of Jesus. Earlier, the Apostle Philip had been preaching in Samaria (in Jordan) and had converted Simon to the new faith, with many others. The Apostles Peter and John heard of this success and travelled to Samaria to continue the work that Philip started.

The roundel depicts Peter preaching to a crowd in the city of Samaria. In spite of his conversion to Christianity, Simon was still interested in magic. Here we see him offering money to Peter to learn the secret of the miracles he had been performing.
Associated object
Bibliographic references
  • Jean Lafond, La Résurrection d'un Maitre d'Autrefois: Le Peintre-Verrier Arnoult de Nimegue, Rouen, 1942
  • Acts 8: 9-24
Collection
Accession number
5639-1855

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Record createdJune 15, 1999
Record URL
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