Angel Leading Saint Peter out of Prison (?)
Medium
Pen and dark brown ink with brush and gray-brown wash over black chalk underdrawing; lines at top and bottom or sheet in black chalk. On off-white paper
Dimensions
4-5/16 x 4 in. (10.9 x 10.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William B. Jaffe, 1956
Accession Number
56.235.52
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate 17th-century drawing captures a pivotal biblical moment: the angel guiding Saint Peter out of prison, as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. Created by an anonymous artist from the School of Seville, the work reflects the profound religious fervor of Counter-Reformation Spain, where such miraculous scenes were popular subjects meant to inspire faith and devotion among viewers. Executed in pen and dark brown ink with gray-brown wash over black chalk, the drawing demonstrates the fluid, expressive techniques favored by Sevillian draftsmen. The compact format and tonal contrasts...