The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew

Duccio · 1308–1311
National Gallery of Art, Washington

Duccio di Buoninsegna painted this small panel between 1308 and 1311 as part of the Maestà, the huge two-sided altarpiece for the high altar of Siena Cathedral. It stood on the back, in a row of scenes from Jesus’ life; when the altarpiece was taken apart, the scenes were scattered.

Duccio keeps only what the story needs: a rock, a boat, a sea and a gold sky. Jesus speaks from the shore, Peter turns towards him, and Andrew still holds the full net.

From the text

Jesus walking beside the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18)

Two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew, casting a net into the sea (Matthew 4:18)

“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)

The artist’s own

A gold background instead of a sky

A net heavy with fish, as if they have just made a catch

Halos for Jesus and the brothers

Details

Jesus

Barefoot on the rocky shore, holding out his hand.

Peter

In blue, raising one hand as he turns to Jesus.

Andrew

In red, with a longer beard, holding the net with both hands.

The net

Hanging over the side, full of fish.

Gold

Gold leaf where the sky would be, worn and scratched with age.

Duccio di Buoninsegna, Sienese, c. 1255–1318/1319. National Gallery of Art, Washington (Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1939.1.141) · Tempera on panel · NGA Open Access: "Images of these works are available free of charge for any use, commercial or non-commercial, under Creative Commons Zero (CC0)." (NGA open data: published_images.csv openaccess = 1)