The Roman Centurion Cornelius Sending his Men to Joppa c. 1653

This pen and ink drawing, “The Roman Centurion Cornelius Sending his Men to Joppa”, by Willem Drost, depicts a scene from the biblical book of Acts. The drawing, dated to circa 1653, shows the Roman Centurion Cornelius, who is seated behind a table, gesturing to his men to leave the room. Drost, who was known for his drawings of historical and religious subjects, utilizes a dynamic hatching technique in this work that gives a sense of movement and energy to the figures. The drawing is a small work, measuring only 161 mm in height and 218 mm in width, yet it captures the drama of this pivotal biblical story.