Artwork
The Deliverance of Saint Peter
The Deliverance of Saint Peter is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Unknown. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
The oil painting titled “The Deliverance of Saint Peter” depicts an elderly, bearded figure clad in a yellow robe and blue shirt, clutching a red book. A winged angel in a white robe stands behind him, gesturing upward while supporting the saint’s robe. A key and a rope rest on a nearby table, elements traditionally linked to Peter’s imprisonment and escape.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure represents Saint Peter, recognized by his halo and the symbols of a key and rope that reference his arrest and miraculous liberation. The angel’s upward pointing gesture suggests divine intervention, emphasizing the theme of heavenly assistance in the apostle’s deliverance.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the work employs a restrained palette of yellows, blues, and whites, contrasting the vivid red of the book. The rendering of the angel’s feathers and the saint’s aged features demonstrates careful modeling, while the composition balances the figures around the central table.
History & Provenance
Details regarding the painting’s creation date, artist, and ownership history are not documented in the provided information, limiting knowledge of its provenance and original context.
Context
The composition aligns with traditional Christian iconography of Saint Peter’s escape from prison, a subject frequently rendered in post‑medieval religious art to illustrate faith and redemption.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
