Relief of St. Peter Released from Prison

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The marble relief is one of two masterpieces depicting the liberation and Crucifixion of St. Peter by renowned artist Luca della Robbia. Documentation traced by art historian Rumohr confirms the attribution to della Robbia. Both reliefs were part of a grand altar for the chapel of St. Peter commissioned by the Opera of the Cathedral in 1439, alongside an unfinished altar for the Chapel of St. Paul. The two altars were likely designed using a model created by Brunelleschi in 1435; however, it's possible they were never completed as no evidence remains except for these low-reliefs. Art historian Gentilini suggests that the altar's incompleteness may have coincided with della Robbia's decision to abandon marble sculpture. These reliefs showcase his style, influenced by Ghiberti and Jacopo della Quercia, while omitting any Masquerade compositions as noted by Gentilini and Petrucci. Gaeta Bertelà notes some uncertainty in the scene's composition. In 1823, the reliefs were relocated to the Uffizi, later transferring to the National Museum of the Bargello in 1879.