The Apostles Peter and Paul

These peculiar depictions of the Saints Paul and Peter, shown in profile and reminiscent of stone sculptures in a niche, are fine examples of de Gheyn's elegant, ethereal style. The prints of the two Apostles, recognizable here not just by their names written on the cartellini below the steps but also by their attributes, the sword and the keys, were presumably conceived as a pair and intended to be seen facing each other, as shown here.
Both etchings are very rare. To our knowledge, only two single impressions have been offered at auction in the last thirty years. A preparatory drawing of Saint Paul has survived and is at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest (inv. no. 1513).