Saint Paul Escapes from Damascus

Art Historical Context

This engraving, titled *Saint Paul Escapes from Damascus*, captures a dramatic moment from the New Testament in which the apostle Paul is lowered from the city walls in a basket to evade persecution. Created between 1501 and 1550 by Philip Galle after a design by Maerten van Heemskerck, the print reflects the collaborative printmaking practices of the Northern Renaissance, when painters often supplied drawings for skilled engravers to translate into widely circulated images. As an engraving, work demonstrates the medium’s importance in the sixteenth century for disseminating religious stories and ideas across Europe. Unlike unique paintings, prints like this one could be produced in multiple impressions, making biblical narratives accessible to a broader audience beyond church walls or private collections. Van Heemskerck’s compositions, often marked by dynamic figures and architectural detail, lent themselves well to the precise line work of engraving. Housed in the National Gallery of Art through the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, the piece offers viewers a glimpse into how Renaissance artists blended faith, storytelling, and technical innovation to bring sacred history vividly to life.