Title: Crucifixion of Saint Andrew
Artist: Peter Howson
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: tbd
Date: 2007
Location: City Art Centre, Edinburgh.
St. Andrew, the Apostle, son of Jonah, was born in Bethsaida
of Galilee. He was brother of Simon Peter, and both were fishermen who, at the
beginning of Jesus’ ministry, occupied the same house at Capernaum. Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History quoted Origen
as saying that Andrew preached in Scythia, while the later Chronicle of Nestor adds that he preached along the Black Sea and
the Dnieper River as far as Kiev, and on to Novgorod. He was crucified by order
of the Roman Governor Aegeas, at Patrae in Achaia, on November 30, A.D. 60.
According to the Gospel of John 1:35-42, it was St. Andrew who
was the first named disciple called by Jesus. In keeping with his role as “the
first”, the feast of St. Andrew marks the beginning of a new liturgical year
with the start of Advent the Sunday that falls nearest to St. Andrew’s feast
day of November 30th. Beginning
today the Christmas Anticipatory Prayer, also known as the "Novena to St.
Andrew" is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This
meditative prayer is to help prepare oneself spiritually, and increase our
awareness of the real focus of Christmas.
Peter Howson (b. 1958) is a London born Scottish painter. In
2005 he was approached by the City Art Centre (Edinburgh) with a proposal to
complete a painting on the theme of Scotland’s patron Saint. This meeting led
to the following exhibition, “Andrew: Portrait of a Saint”. In preparation, the
artist travelled to Israel in order to immerse himself in the region where
Andrew had lived. The resulting representation of the Saint’s crucifixion has
been described as “monumental” and as having reenergized the traditional
portrait of Andrew. With an expression of suffering painstakingly etched across
the Saint’s face, Peter has visually depicted the strength and endurance of
Scotland’s patron Saint, and added a new sense of life to this ecclesial hero. More
of Peter’s work can be seen on his website https://peterhowson.co.uk
