The Death of Ananias; Raphael Cartoons
- Object:
- Place of origin:
- Date:
1778 (printed)
1780 (published)
- Artist/Maker:
Sommerau, Ludwig (printmaker)
Raphael, born 1483 - died 1520 (from a cartoon by, artist)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C, case MB2A, shelf SH66, box GG20
- Image unavailable
This image represents the moment when Ananias is struck down and dies after lying to Saint Peter about the proportion of money he is donating to the Church.
The so-called Raphael Cartoons, which this print reproduces, are seven full size designs for tapestries by the great Italian Renaissance artist Raphael (1483-1520). They illustrate passages from the Bible concerning the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. None of them is smaller than ten feet high by thirteen feet wide. They belong to Her Majesty the Queen and have been on loan to this museum since 1865. The earliest print relating to the Raphael Cartoons dates from 1516, the year in which Raphael received final payment for the commission. It inaugurates an extraordinary case study in the history of printmaking, stretching over more than four hundred and fifty years and across a wide range of printmaking techniques. This print is in reverse of the cartoon and therefore in the same direction as the tapestry.
Physical description
Ananias lies dying on the left of the foreground. To the right a man and woman react in horror. On a raised platform in the centre background a group of men stand, Saint Peter in the middle passing judgement on Ananias. In the background left people are carrying goods or counting money and on the right a man is handing money over to one of the men on the platform. A couple leave via steps to the right of the background; over the staircase is a window through which an onlooker watches the scene. Through a square opening on the left is a landscape with tree. The image is surrouned by a simple border.
This scene is in reverse of the cartoon from which it is derived and is faithful in compositional detail except that the image is slightly taller and the top of the drape and the figures climbing the stairs are therefore more visible.
Place of Origin
Rome, Italy (printed)
Date
1778 (printed)
1780 (published)
Artist/maker
Sommerau, Ludwig (printmaker)
Raphael, born 1483 - died 1520 (from a cartoon by, artist)
Materials and Techniques
etching on paper
Marks and inscriptions
Raphael Sanctius pinx
L. Sommerau sculp. Roma 1778.
ANANIAS CORRUVIT EX ANIMIS
Dimensions
Height: 27.6 cm sheet, Width: 40.7 cm sheet, Height: 27 cm platemark, Width: 40.2 cm platemark
Descriptive line
Etching by L. Sommerau after a cartoon by Raphael.The Death of Ananias. Italian, printed in Rome, 1778.
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Shearman, John. Raphael's Cartoons in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen and the tapestries for the Sistine Chapel. London, Phaidon, 1972.
General text about the cartoons and tapestries.
Fermor, Sharon. The Raphael Tapestry Cartoons: Narrative, Decoration, Design. London, Scala Books in association with the Victoria and Albery Museum.
General text about the cartoons and tapestries.
Le Blanc, Charles. Manuel de l'Amateur d'Estampes. Paris, 1854-6.
Sommerau, Louis. Les celèbres tapisseries de Raphaël d'Urbin, connües sous le nom d'Arrazi, qui sont au Vatican à Rome, au nombre de vingt pièces gravées. Rome, 1780.
Is this the published work to which these prints belonged? Referred to in C. Le Blanc, Vol. III, page 565 as 'Tapisseries... qui sont au Vatican a Rome' see ref above.
Materials
Paper; Printing ink
Techniques
Etching (printing process)
Subjects depicted
Landscapes; Peter (Saint); Crowd scenes; Raphael Cartoons; Drapes; Ananias; Paving
Categories
Prints; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
PDP
