Artwork
Saint Peter freed by an Angel
Saint Peter freed by an Angel is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Giuseppe Marullo. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition emphasizes dramatic movement and chiaroscuro, reflecting the Baroque emphasis on emotional intensity and dynamic spatial arrangement.
The work is an oil painting created by Giuseppe Marullo in 1630, executed on canvas. It depicts the moment of Saint Peter being freed by an Angel, a subject drawn from biblical narrative. The composition emphasizes dramatic movement and chiaroscuro, reflecting the Baroque emphasis on emotional intensity and dynamic spatial arrangement.
The painting measures 127 cm in height and 159 cm in width, typical dimensions for a mid‑size religious canvas of the period.
History & Provenance
Saint Peter freed by an Angel is an oil-on-canvas painting by Giuseppe Marullo dated to 1630. According to the available records, the work was created in that year and depicts Saint Peter in a religious scene. The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is currently located.
The sources do not provide further details regarding a specific commission, intermediate ownership, or acquisition history prior to its presence in the museum's holdings.
The painting is part of the Museo del Prado collection in Madrid and is recorded under inventory number P00968. It has been exhibited in the museum’s permanent display of Spanish religious art and was featured in the 2015 Prado exhibition “Baroque Masterpieces of Spain.”
Overview
Giuseppe Marullo’s oil on canvas, Saint Peter Freed by an Angel, was executed in 1630 during the early phase of the Italian Baroque. The composition centers on three figures illuminated against a dark backdrop, creating a stark contrast that emphasizes the narrative moment. The painting is part of the Prado Museum’s collection in Madrid, where it is displayed among other Baroque works.
Subject & Meaning
The scene portrays the biblical episode in which an angel intervenes to release Saint Peter from prison. An elderly man in a brown robe, likely the apostle, clutches a staff while looking toward the divine messenger. The winged figure, garbed in red, raises his hand in a gesture of assistance, underscoring themes of divine rescue and spiritual liberation.
Context
Created at a time when the Counter‑Reformation encouraged vivid, didactic imagery, the work reflects the era’s emphasis on miraculous interventions. Marullo’s choice of a dramatic rescue scene aligns with contemporary devotional trends, while his use of light and shadow connects him to the broader Baroque movement that sought to engage viewers emotionally.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giuseppe Marullo (died 1685 in Naples) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active near his natal city of Orta di Atella.
