The Angel Commands Cornelius to Fetch Saint Peter

Philip Galle after Jan van der Straet

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a Biblical scene with a soldier, a philosopher, and a celestial being. The central figure, dressed in Roman attire, is under angelic visitation in a classical architectural setting. In the foreground, a heavily armored Roman centurion converses with another figure, both against a backdrop of steps leading to a bustling urban scene. To the right, a venerable bearded man sits on an ornate chair, seemingly engaged in an interaction with an ethereal angelic figure. Above and to the right, another angelic figure emerges from the clouds. The illustration is detailed with delineated architectural elements, reflective of Renaissance-style interpretation of Roman architecture and everyday life.