Gerrit van Honthorst, 1592 Utrecht – 1656 ebenda, zugeschrieben

THE LIBERATION OF PETRI FROM THE DUNGEON Oil on canvas. 146 x 195 cm. The painting is large in scale, suggesting that it was commissioned by the church. It depicts the scene from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 12:6-7), according to which Peter is freed from prison by an angel. The depiction is limited to a simple, bare room in which Peter appears as if awakened from sleep. Stunned, he holds his hand to his wrinkled forehead, his open eyes as if blinded by the light. In contrast, the face of the youthful angel on the right, with half-length hair and his arm stretched out in front of him, is depicted in shadow. The position of his fingers indicates an invitation to follow. His left hand holds the latch of the open door behind him, from which the scene is illuminated. The painting is identical in content to Honthorst's work in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin from 1616/1618 (canvas 129 x 179 cm). Whether this is a repetition of the motif by the artist himself or whether the workshop was involved remains to be researched. A.R. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Duke Innocenzo Piccolomini-Clementini, Siena. Christie's Rome, 1982, lot 119. Literature: J. Richard Judson, Rudolf E. O. Ekkart, Gerrit van Honthorst, 1592-1656, p. 94, mentioning the provenance. (1401614) (2) (11) Gerrit van Honthorst, 1592 Utrecht - 1656 ibid, attributed THE LIBERATION OF SAINT PETER FROM PRISON Oil on canvas. 146 x 195 cm. The subject is identical to Honthorst's work held at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin dating 1616/1618, (oil on canvas, 129 x 179 cm). Provenance: Formerly collection of Duke Innocenzo Piccolomini-Clementini, Siena. Christie's Rome, 1982, lot 119. Literature: J. Richard Judson, Rudolf E. O. Ekkart, Gerrit van Honthorst, 1592-1656, p.94, mentioned with indication of provenance.