The Death of Ananias, Surrounded by Apostles (1518, Met-Objekt 5953)
Original title: The death of Ananias, surrounded by Apostles
kurzbeschreibung
Ugo da Carpi's woodcut "The Death of Ananias, Surrounded by the Apostles" dates from 1518 and depicts the biblical scene of Ananias's sudden death among the apostles. The print is a chiaroscuro woodcut made with three blocks in shades of brown.
Description
A motionless man lies on the ground in the foreground, encircled by several apostles in classical robes. Some of the apostles are caught mid-movement, while others pause to watch what has happened. Further figures, also dressed in antique garments, fill the background. The setting is a room with columns and hangings; light falling from above picks out the outlines of the figures and the structure of the space.
Context
When Ugo da Carpi made this woodcut in 1518, the chiaroscuro technique was just gaining ground in Italy. The subject comes from the Acts of the Apostles (5:1–11), where Ananias is struck dead for deceit. Carpi worked in Rome and Venice and became known for prints after designs by Renaissance artists.
Impact
The clear arrangement of the figures and the deliberate lighting give the image a tension that is dramatic yet balanced. The brown tones contribute to a calm, serious mood that suits the biblical gravity of the event.
Technique
Three woodblocks in different shades of brown were used for this sheet, printed in the chiaroscuro process. This allows for gradations of tone and a sense of relief that recalls a drawing with shading.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)