St Peter, St John and St Philip Laying Their Hands on the Baptised at Samaria. From: The Acts of The Apostles, plate 10

The Acts of the Apostles series of engravings is almost certainly based on drawings by Marten (Maerten) van Heemskerck, and dates from the year after his death in 1574. Van Heemskerck, one of the leading artists of his century in Haarlem, was one of the first Netherlandish artists to make drawings specifically for reproduction by commercial printmakers such as we see here. He adopted a technique of cross-hatchings and stippling to assist the engraver.

The engraver was a leading figure in his field as well, who excelled in reproducing works in other mediums. Philip (Philips) Galle was also a major publisher.While he collaborated in his native Haarlem with van Heemskerck, to avoid the siege of that city in the early stages of the Eighty Years' War, he moved to Antwerp (c. 1569-70), where his family business continued through the 17th century.

This engraving is from a series of 34 plates depicting the New Testament book of Acts. The episode depicted is from 8:12-18, when the people of Samaria believed the apostle Philip and 'as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women.' The converts included the renowned Simon the Sorcerer. 'When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptised into the name of Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.'

Our engraving depicts this final moment in the foreground; in the continuous narrative device employed by the artist, acts of conversion are taking place in the background at right. The dove of the Holy Spirit dominates the top right of the composition. See also Plate 4 from the same series, The Apostles baptising in Jerusalem (1970-0030-8).

Dr Mark Stocker, Curator Historical International Art                           December 2016