1574
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Deaths of Ananias and Sapphira is a 1574 ink by Philip Galle, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a chaotic scene split into two halves. On the left, a muscular man holds a sword while another figure kneels, offering a hat. On the right, a group of robed men surrounds a woman lying on a bed, while others below struggle with sacks of coins and broken jars. The background has a cityscape with buildings and tiny figures. The Latin text at the bottom hints this tells a story of punishment for dishonesty. The artist packed many figures into tight spaces, using sharp lines to show drama. Look up engraving to see how artists like this carved detailed images into metal.
Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.
See the richer artist page
