Petrus in de gevangenis door de engel bezocht (?) 1671 - 1722

Antoine Coypel sketched this scene of Saint Peter’s liberation in the 17th century. Here, the angel appears as a beacon of hope, an intermediary between the divine and the earthly, freeing Peter from his chains. Observe the angel’s gesture – a guiding hand, a gentle pull – a motif echoing across time, from ancient depictions of Hermes Psychopompos leading souls to the afterlife, to classical depictions of allegorical figures. These images resonate because they tap into a collective memory, a shared human experience of seeking guidance in times of darkness. The angel’s wings, a symbol of divine intervention, remind us of Hermes’ winged sandals or Nike’s soaring form. The psychological power lies in this moment of deliverance, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This theme of liberation is a potent symbol, a recurring motif in art history. The angel's intervention in Coypel's sketch serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of symbols, their ability to resurface and evolve, carrying echoes of the past into new cultural contexts.