Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo

Collection Victor Luzarches (1803-1869), Tours; 
Roger Cormier, Tours;
Vente, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, 30 avril 1921, no. 55;
Acquis à cette vente par la famille de l'actuel propriétaire.

H. Guerlain, Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo au temps du Christ, Tours, 1921, no. 107;
Ch. Conrad, Die grossformatigen religiösen Zeichnungen Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Ph. D. dissertation, Université de Heidelberg, 1996, no. 208;
A. M. Gealt et G. Knox, Domenico Tiepolo, A New Testament, Bloomington & Indianapolis, 2006, p. 626, cat. no. 268, reproduit p. 627 (avec une provenance erronée et une confusion avec le dessin perdu pendant la seconde guerre mondiale, anciennement conservé au Kunsthalle de Brême).

The following condition report has been provided by Caroline Corrigan, 17-25 rue Charles Graindorge, 93170 Bagnolet, Tel: 33 (0)1 43 63 25 44, Email : caroline.corrigan@wanadoo.fr, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. Very good overall condition. The wite colours and lightening are created by the paper left appearent, paper which is always very white and of exceptional quality in Tiepolo's work. There is no foxing. Light stains in the four corners due to glue.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Ce deuxième dessin met en scène un épisode de la vie de saint Paul avant qu'il ne soit baptisé et ne prêche la parole du Christ. Il s'appelait à l'origine Saul et était originaire de la ville de Tarse, en Cilicie. Jésus ressuscité lui était apparu et il était sorti de cette rencontre parfaitement aveugle. Tiepolo choisit de décrire ici le moment où Ananias, disciple du Christ, se rend dans la maison de Judas pour guérir Paul, dit alors Saul de Tarse:

" Or il y avait à Damas un disciple nommé Ananias, et le Seigneur lui dit dans une vision : 'Ananias !' Il répondit : 'Me voici, Seigneur.' Le Seigneur lui dit : 'Lève-toi, va dans la rue qu'on appelle la Rue Droite, et demande, dans la maison de Judas, après un nommé Saul de Tarse; car voici, il est en prière, et il a vu un homme nommé Ananias, qui entrait et lui imposait les mains pour lui rendre la vue.' (...) Ananias donc s'en alla et vint dans cette maison ; puis, ayant imposé les mains à Saul, il dit : 'Saul, mon frère, le Seigneur Jésus qui t'est apparu sur la route par laquelle tu venais, m'a envoyé, afin que tu recouvres la vue, et que tu sois rempli d'Esprit saint.' Aussitôt, il tomba des yeux de Saul comme des écailles, et il recouvra la vue. Il se leva et reçu le baptême. "
(Les Actes des Apôtres, 9: 10-18)

Toujours aveugle, Paul se présente agenouillé, s'en remettant à la volonté d'Ananias. Alors que le disciple prodigue ses soins, une fenêtre s'ouvre annonçant non seulement sa guérison, mais également le salut de son âme.

Nous remercions le professeur George Knox de nous avoir confirmé que notre dessin n'est en aucun cas l'œuvre perdue, anciennement conservée au Kunsthalle de Brême, comme indiqué par erreur dans son catalogue (voir Gealt et Knox, op. cit., p. 626, no. 268).


ANANIAS RESTORING SAUL'S SIGHT

Signed lower left
Pen and brown ink, brown wash, black chalk

This second drawing depicts an episode from the life of St. Paul, before he had been baptised and had begun to preach the word of Christ. The Saint was originally called Saul, and came from the town of Tarsus, in Cilicia. The resurrected Jesus had appeared to him, an encounter that had left him totally blind. Tiepolo chose to show here the moment when Ananias, a disciple of Christ, came to the house of Judas to heal Paul, then still called Saul of Tarsus:

" And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (...) And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. " (Acts, 9: 10-18)

Still blind, Paul is shown kneeling before Ananias. As the disciple exercises his powers, a window opens, signalling not only the healing, but also the greeting of the Holy Spirit.

We are grateful to Professor George Knox for having confirmed that this drawing is definitely not the lost drawing, formerly in the collection of the Kunsthalle, Bremen, as was erroneously indicated in his catalogue (see Gealt and Knox, op. cit., p. 626, no. 268).