ANGEL FREEING THE APOSTLES 1795 William Skelton - Thomas Kirk ETCHING

Original 1795 14 3/8 inch x 18 1/4 inch Etching and Engraving titled THE ANGEL FREEING THE APOSTLES

St Peter and another apostle looking up to left towards an angel, which hovers on a cloud, gesturing to right and taking St Peter by the arm, leading them to freedom; with two sleeping soldiers leaning against an archway under a portcullis to left.

Print by William Skelton (1763–1848). He was born in London, the brother of the engraver Joseph Skelton. He studied in the schools of the Royal Academy, and was a pupil first of James Basire and later of William Sharp, becoming an line engraver. Skelton was employed on the illustrations of many of the fine publications of the day: John Boydell's Shakespeare, Thomas Macklin's Bible, Robert Bowyer's edition of David Hume's History of England, John Sharpe's British Classics, Lord Macartney's Embassy to China, 1797, the Museum Worsleyanum of Richard Worsley, Ancient Marbles in the British Museum, and Specimens of Ancient Sculpture published by the Dilettanti Society, 1810.

After Thomas Kirk (1765 - 1797). Thomas Kirk (1765–1797) was a noted English artist, book illustrator and engraver of the late 18th century. A pupil of Richard Cosway, Kirk exhibited the first of 25 works at the Royal Academy in 1785, and created many famous engravings based either upon his own work or works by, amongst others, Angelica Kauffman, Richard Westall or Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Published by Thomas Macklin (1752/3 – 1800), Poets Gallery, Fleet Street

Inscription: Lettered below the image with the title and 'Acts. Ch. 5. ve. 17. 20. / Kirk Pinxt. / W. Skelton Sculpt. / London, Publish'd April 30th. 1795, by Thos. Macklin, Poets Gallery, Fleet Street.'.

The etching is in very good condition with a nick in the bottom edge with general age-related toning, foxing and minor defects from handling.