Christ Presenting the Keys to Saint Peter

Christ Presenting the Keys to Saint Peter

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Set within architectural niches, Saint Peter receives keys from Christ, signifying the authority vested in him. The elements of Peter’s dress—the papal tiara and pallium—distinguish him as pope and bishop of Rome.

Medieval Art and The Cloisters

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Christ Presenting the Keys to Saint PeterChrist Presenting the Keys to Saint PeterChrist Presenting the Keys to Saint PeterChrist Presenting the Keys to Saint PeterChrist Presenting the Keys to Saint Peter

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world. Displayed in both The Met Fifth Avenue and in the Museum's branch in northern Manhattan, The Met Cloisters, the collection encompasses the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome in the fourth century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the early sixteenth century. It also includes pre-medieval European works of art created during the Bronze Age and early Iron Age.