James Atkins was a founder pupil of the Belfast Academical Institution where his pictures attracted the admiration of the Marquess of Downshire and the Marquis of Londonderry and, with their support, Atkins was sent to study in Italy. He remained there for the next 13 years and it was during this period that he made this copy from Titian’s original altarpiece in Venice. Saint Peter Martyr was born in Verona, Italy into a family perhaps sympathetic to the Cathars, a religious sect which flourished at the time. Peter joined Saint Dominic's Order of the Friars Preachers and became a celebrated preacher throughout northern and central Italy. Peter was appointed as Inquisitor in Lombardy by Pope Innocent IV. However, whilst returning from Como to Milan, he was set upon by two assassins hired by Milanese Cathars.