Artwork
Release of St. Peter from prison (Acts 12:5-8)
Release of St. Peter from prison (Acts 12:5-8) is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp. It dates from 1642 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.
About this work
Overview
Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp’s oil on canvas, dated around 1642, portrays the biblical episode in which an angel frees Saint Peter from confinement. The work is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw and measures a modest size typical of Dutch 17th‑century religious paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the moment described in Acts 12:5‑8: an angel, robed in white, guides a bewildered Peter through the darkness of his cell while the Roman guards lie asleep. The narrative emphasizes divine intervention and the triumph of faith over earthly oppression.
Technique & Style
Cuyp employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing a narrow beam of light from a distant window to illuminate the central figures against a deep, shadowy interior. This contrast heightens the drama, giving the scene a three‑dimensional quality and focusing the viewer’s eye on the interaction between angel and apostle.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 1640s, the painting entered the holdings of Warsaw’s National Museum during the 20th century, though the exact path of acquisition remains undocumented. Its presence in the museum reflects the broader interest in Dutch Golden Age works within Central European collections.
Context
The work belongs to a tradition of Dutch artists interpreting New Testament stories with a sober, naturalistic approach. Cuyp, the son of landscape painter Aelbert Cuyp, often blended genre realism with religious subject matter, and this piece exemplifies his capacity to convey spiritual themes through everyday settings.
Artist & collection
