Saint Veronica between Saints Peter and Paul, from "The Small Passion"

Saint Veronica between Saints Peter and Paul, from "The Small Passion" is a 1510 woodcut print executed by Albrecht Dürer. This distinguished piece belongs to Dürer’s influential series, "The Small Passion," a collection of thirty-six biblical narratives intended for broad distribution among the German populace during the height of the Northern Renaissance. The print medium allowed Dürer to circulate complex theological subjects and demonstrate his technical brilliance in an accessible format.

The composition centers on the central figure of Saint Veronica, the woman traditionally associated with wiping Christ’s face on the road to Calvary. She holds the sudarium, the veil bearing the miraculous, un-man-made impression of Christ’s suffering face. Flanking her are the two monumental Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul, who together represent the foundational authority of the early Church. Saint Peter is easily identifiable by the prominent Keys of Heaven hanging near him, symbolizing his foundational role, while Saint Paul is depicted as the intellectual and theological pillar. Dürer’s mastery of the woodcut technique is evident in the detailed treatment of light, shadow, and the heavy drapery of the figures, achieved through intricate line work and cross-hatching.

As a leading figure in the German Renaissance, Dürer permanently elevated the status of the print medium from simple illustration to fine art. This work showcases his characteristic ability to combine intense spiritual drama with monumental figure composition, despite the relatively small scale of the piece. Saint Veronica between Saints Peter and Paul remains an important example of early 16th-century religious devotion and artistic innovation and is held in the renowned collection of German prints and drawings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.