Get Thee Behind Me, Satan (Rétire-toi, Satan)

James Tissot · 1886–1894
Brooklyn Museum, New York

On a stony road through bare hills, Peter has stepped in front of Jesus with his arms raised, as if to stop him. Jesus, wrapped in white, turns sharply towards him with both hands up.

The other disciples follow behind with their staffs and watch, seen from close up in the foreground. Tissot caught the two men in one sudden movement, far ahead of the group on the empty road.

From the text

“Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him” (Matthew 16:22)

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan!’” (Matthew 16:23)

The artist’s own

The scene on a road among hills, with the disciples walking behind

Peter in a broad striped cloak

Details

Peter and Jesus

Peter blocks the road; Jesus turns to him with his hands raised.

The disciples

Men with staffs follow and stare.

The hills

Bare rocky slopes with a dark hollow.

James Tissot, French, 1836–1902. Brooklyn Museum, New York (Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.153) · Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper · Brooklyn Museum (Commons file page, «Permission»): "This image was uploaded by the Brooklyn Museum as a content partnership, and is considered to have no known copyright restrictions by the institutions of the Brooklyn Museum." — "No known copyright restrictions".

The verses

Matt 16:21–23From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”