Saint Peter as Pope - France 15th century

This carved stone head depicts St. Peter as a pope, with the three-tiered papal crown and a large beard typical of St. Peter's iconography. This medieval sculpture was created in the 15th century.
In Western art, St. Peter is depicted with a large curly beard, which makes him an immediately recognisable figure in religious works. This headgear first appeared in religious imagery in the 9th century, when papal headdresses began to take the form of a large white cap.
However, the appearance of several layers on this headdress did not begin until the 14th century. The Roman Catholic Church considers him to be the first bishop of Rome, which is why St. Peter is depicted as such, to assert his papal primacy.