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The Death of Ananias

Artist: unknown

The Death of Ananias

1992 accession form states that it appears to be a "Copy of 16th century/ 17th century Italian work. Set in town centre/ temple steps? Christ arm…

1992 accession form states that it appears to be a "Copy of 16th century/ 17th century Italian work. Set in town centre/ temple steps? Christ arm raised, figure lying on back, figure with money falling out of money bag and much other activity, fine Classical arcade". Dr Claudia Heide in her assessment of the work for inclusion on NICE (National Inventory of Continental European Paintings) dated the work to c.1750 to c.1850. Assistance in sourcing the identity of the original after which this work appears to be a copy was posted on ArtUK's Art Detective in 2016; https://www.artuk.org/artdetective/discussions/discussions/the-death-of-ananias-is-thought-to-be-a-copy-of-an-earlier-painting-do-you-know-which; where the name of Sir James Thornhill (1675/6-1734) was suggested by two correpondents. There are certain similarities in the handling of the paint (where areas o fthe canvas are left bare) to Thornhill's oil sketch for 'Thetis Accepting the Shield of Achilles from Vulcan', c.1710 (Tate, T00814) and to an oil sketch of 'Queen Anne Enthroned' (Christies, London, Brian Juhos Collection, 2013-05-01, lot 31, sold for £11,875) https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiP7v7t0oreAhUKJsAKHUirD2EQFjACegQICBAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.christies.com%2FThe-Brian-Juhos-Collection-24170.aspx&usg=AOvVaw2NK0eN0opNUz9T_nJnjDeo, however images of other works by Thornhill on line suggest a far more precise treatment of architectural details than the present work displays. This may indicate that the present work if indeed by Thornhill is simply a study, rather than a finished work, or it is by another artist. The perspective of the tiled flooring is somewhat at odds with Thornhill's apparent attention to architectural detail, even if it is just a sketch.

Here is the complete thread of the ArtUK Art Detective discussion;
"Topic: Subject or sitter
This painting was previously titled ‘Study of a New Testament Subject’. The collection has now concluded this scene depicts the story told in Acts 5:3–10 – the death of Ananias and Sapphira. The story was captured in cartoon by Raphael (and widely reproduced, e.g. http://bit.ly/2copnWC)

The painting title has been amended and a description has been added to this record. The collection believes the work to be a copy of an old master painting.

I was thinking it looks like someone working in the manner of Veronese in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, such as Giovanni Antonio Fumiani. Of course, it is not necessarily the case that we're talking here of an Italian – James Thornhill painted the subject in St Paul’s Cathedral: http://bit.ly/2cU9VUt

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9 comments
Jacinto Regalado
Jacinto Regalado, 12/11/2017 03:14Report comment
This might be after Fumiani, but it seems too crudely done to be by him, unless it is a condition or restoration problem. Here's a Fumiani with comparable use of architecture:

http://www.bigli.com/assets/images/quadri/_589M.jpg

Jacinto Regalado
Jacinto Regalado, 12/11/2017 03:34Report comment
There is a Fumiani in the Uffizi depicting the stoning of Zacharias which has also been called or taken for the death of Ananias, but that is not the source of this picture. Image here:

http://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda.v2.jsp?tipo_scheda=OA&id=60836&titolo=Fumiani Giovanni Antonio, Lapidazione di Zaccaria nel cortile del tempio&locale=it&decorator=layout_resp&apply=true#lg=1&slide=0

Anselm Bassano
Anselm Bassano, 11/08/2018 14:57Report comment
This reminds me of Raphael’s School of Athens.

Jacinto Regalado
Jacinto Regalado, 15/10/2018 02:46Report comment
Could this be an oil sketch by Thornhill? What is known of the provenance of this picture?

Marion Richards, Art Detective Manager
Marion Richards, Art Detective Manager, 15/10/2018 11:27Report comment
According to the NIRP report (NICE Paintings link above right), the provenance is unknown and it was accessioned in 1992. There is a label on the middle stretcher, left: 'O. O. C. S. Unidentified 12 ¾ x 14 ¾ A. I. (/VOI)'.

Jacob Simon
Jacob Simon, 03/11/2022 13:26Report comment
This four-year old discussion has not gone very far. The discussion is headed: "The Death of Ananias’ is thought to be a copy of an earlier painting. Do you know which?"

My own take is that the painting is not necessarily a copy of an earlier painting. And that the painting is by a minor artist who will be very difficult to identify. Time to close this discussion?

Marcie Doran
Marcie Doran, 03/11/2022 15:56Report comment
Victor Honoré Janssens (1658–1736)?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Honoré_Janssens

While the Art UK work is not as finely executed, 'The death of Caesar' has certain similarities, such as: the prone figure, poses, forearms and the columns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Honoré_Janssens#/media/File:Victor_Honoré_Janssens_-_The_death_of_Caesar.jpg

Jacinto Regalado
Jacinto Regalado, 04/11/2022 19:24Report comment
Marcie, in my opinion, the similarity is superficial and essentially a coincidence. I do not think it helps substantially with our picture.

Jacinto Regalado
Jacinto Regalado, 04/11/2022 19:39Report comment
Thornhill copied Raphael's "Anananias and Sapphira," https://bit.ly/3FGywuR , but this certainly looks to be by a minor hand, though it may well be a relatively crude oil sketch for a larger work. The descriptive note already alludes to Raphael's influence (though it misspells colonnade as "collonade" in the last paragraph), and I agree with Jacob that it is probably not worthwhile to keep this open."