Artwork
Liberation of Saint Peter
Liberation of Saint Peter is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Liberation of Saint Peter is an oil painting on canvas created by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo between 1665 and 1667. It is now held in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a biblical scene from Acts 12:5–17, showing the liberation of Saint Peter. A kneeling figure reaches up to an angel, who holds a key and scroll, symbolizing the miraculous event.
Technique & Style
Murillo employed chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark, to emphasize the figures. Soft light illuminates the angel and Saint Peter, making them stand out against a dark background.
History & Provenance
Originally one of eight works commissioned for the Hermandad de la Caridad in Seville, the painting was looted by Marshal Soult in 1810, along with three other works from the same series.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo ( mure-IL-oh, m(y)uu-REE-oh, Spanish:; late December 1617, baptised 1 January 1618 – 3 April 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.
