Petrus im Gefängnis, vom Engel geweckt 

Rembrandt van Rijn created this drawing, ‘Petrus im Gefängnis, vom Engel geweckt’, using pen and brown ink, and brown wash, to capture a moment of divine intervention. Made in the Dutch Republic, likely in the mid-17th century, the artwork shows Saint Peter being awakened in prison by an angel. Rembrandt was working in a protestant environment, and while the Republic’s churches rejected religious imagery, there was still a robust market for biblical scenes for private homes. Consider how the artist uses shadow and light to emphasize the angel as a beacon of hope in the dark prison. The Städel Museum, like many of the grand European galleries, traces its origins to a private collection opened to the public. It is worth considering the role these institutions play in shaping our understanding and appreciation of art. By researching the historical context, and the social conditions that shaped artistic production, we can better understand the public role of art.