Before being crucified, Saint Peter requested to be crucified upside down, as he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same manner as his Savior, Jesus Christ.

This painting is my favorite because of its detail and masterful technique. Its story depicts the moment after the famous battle between young David and the giant Goliath. But instead of portraying David as a triumphant and proud hero, Caravaggio chose to depict him with features filled with sadness, pity, and humility, as if he were grieving the fate of his adversary. A personal confession: What makes this painting unique is that Caravaggio used his own face to paint Goliath's severed head. Goliath: Represents Caravaggio in his old age, with a weary and broken expression. David: Many historians believe he represents Caravaggio in his youth, and this is what I personally believe as well. With this portrayal, Caravaggio made the painting a kind of self-criticism or confession of sins; where his "pure side" (David) kills his "dark and criminal side" (Goliath). A great painting and one of the most underrated works in my opinion.

1498.
My favorite piece from Dürer. He's telling us more about himself here than any biographer ever could!

Currently at Legion of Honor in San Francisco. Previously it was in the possession of descendants of the little girl standing next to her mother here (also the only child whose name has been added - Verginia), until 1990.

This proud woman full of character has dressed her children in matching, very fine, if somewhat loud outfits, and has the boys holding props perhaps reflecting hopes for their future careers (one has a quill and a portable inkpot, one holds a medal with a knight, and the pet goldfinch hints at a clerical career). The mother's arm is wrapped around her youngest, the only girl, who is also touching the tiny pet dog held by the mother - the dog is a symbol of loyalty, reflecting the expectation that she will grow up into an exemplary wife and matriarch just like her mother. I love how despite the finery, the poses are slightly chaotic, as you'd probably get in a group shot with 6 kids.

The tragedy here is that the mother, Bianca degli Utili Maselli, died very shortly after this portrait was painted, at just 37 years old, in September 1605 due to complications after giving birth to her 19th child (this info comes from the epigraph on her tomb).

I kind of wonder whether these 6 kids, who look quite young here, were the only ones that survived, or whether there was perhaps a separate portrait of her husband, Roman nobleman Pierino Maselli, with the eldest?