Artwork
The Angel Releasing St. Peter from Prison
The Angel Releasing St. Peter from Prison is an oil painting by Washington Allston. It is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. The Angel Releasing St.
About this work
Overview
The Angel Releasing St. Peter from Prison is an oil painting by Washington Allston, held at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the biblical scene of an angel freeing St. Peter from prison, conveying a sense of hope and liberation through the figures' expressions and the contrast between light and dark surroundings.
Technique & Style
The artist uses chiaroscuro to emphasize the angel's presence, with a dark background featuring stone walls and archways, while the figures are rendered in more detail, with the angel's white robe and St. Peter's brown robe creating a visual contrast.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Washington Allston spent his life chasing the glow of stories more than fame. Born in South Carolina, he studied law at Harvard before the itch to paint pulled him across the Atlantic to London. There he fell in with…
![A Study from Life [and] Study for Angel Releasing Saint Peter from Prison, by Washington Allston](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/washington-allston--a-study-from-life-and-study-for-angel-releasing-saint-peter--13db111bb86c178e-w320.webp)
