The Death of Ananias

A print reproducing, in reverse, the cartoon executed by Raphael and his workshop in 1515-16 for the tapestry illustrating 'The Death of Ananias' (Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 5, 1-5), one from a set of ten tapestries commissioned by Pope Leo X for the Sistine Chapel. Lettered with production details, Bible quote and dedication to Henri François d'Aguesseau. According to Passavant (1860), this print is based on a copy of the tapestry cartoon by Charles Jervas.

Audran reproduced in print another of Raphael's tapestry cartoons (The Sacrifice at Lystra). See RCIN 853171.

Seven of the original cartoons survive (including that of 'The Death of Ananias'), now in the Victoria and Albert Museum on loan from the Royal Collection. The ten original tapestries were woven in the workshop of Pieter van Aelst and are currently housed in the Vatican Museums.