Redding van Petrus door Christus Possibly 1525

Dirck Vellert created this engraving, "Christ saving Peter from the waters," in 1523 during the Northern Renaissance. Vellert, a glass painter and printmaker in Antwerp, was deeply embedded in the religious and cultural shifts of his time. The engraving depicts a story from the Gospel of Matthew, where Peter attempts to walk on water towards Jesus but begins to sink, losing faith. During this period, religious art often served as a powerful tool for instruction, reinforcing moral and spiritual values. Vellert's detailed rendering captures Peter’s desperation and Christ’s compassion. The chaotic sea is contrasted by Christ's calm, highlighting the themes of faith, doubt, and divine intervention. Consider how Vellert uses the print medium—popular during the Reformation—to disseminate religious narratives and, perhaps, critique the established Church. This image resonates with personal faith and collective anxieties, mirroring the tumultuous religious landscape of the 16th century.