The Apostles Delivered from Prison by an Angel

Art Historical Context

This engraving, created between 1501 and 1550 by Philip Galle after a design by Maerten van Heemskerck, captures a dramatic moment from the New Testament. The scene depicts an angel freeing the apostles from prison, a story of divine intervention and faith drawn from the Book of Acts. Van Heemskerck, a leading Dutch artist of the Renaissance, brought his distinctive Mannerist approach—marked by dynamic compositions and expressive figures—to the original design, which Galle translated into print form with remarkable precision. Engravings like this one played a vital role in the 16th century by...