A70: Ruins of a Temple with a Sibyl
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© The Holburne Museum of Art, Bath
| Museum number | A70 |
| Title | Ruins of a Temple with a Sibyl |
| Additional titles | Capriccio of Ruins
A Sibyl amid the ruins of Carthage A woman showing the way to St Paul & Barnabas |
| Object type | In category: Pictures » Painting |
| Date | Circa 1719 |
| People |
Panini, Giovanni Paolo (Italian painter, ca. 1692-1765) (known) - Painter(s) |
| Place of origin | Europe » Southern Europe » Italy » Central Italy » Rome |
| Condition |
Good |
| Dimensions |
86.0 cm height frame 70.0 cm width frame 7.5 cm depth frame 64.8 cm height sight 48.3 cm width sight |
| Materials & techniques |
In categories: Pictures: Medium » Paint » Oil paint Pictures: Support » Canvas |
| Description |
A capriccio of ruins and antique monuments dominated by a series of Ionic columns springing to a single arch. Visible through the arch is an obelisk carved with hieroglyphs and beyond it a peristyle of columns and a portico round a courtyard or piazza. On the left, below the arch, an urn on a plinth overgrown with vegetation. Around the base of the urn is a group of figures: a seated bearded man, a soldier, a woman and a child. On the right, a female figure in white and off-white, with a white turban and a volume under her arm, gestures into the centre of the scene. She is followed by two old bearded men, one in red and ochre, the other in blue. On the far right, a soldier leans out from among the columns. Blue sky and clouds visible through the columns and arches. In a carved an gilded C18 frame. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subject |
Buildings and gardens |
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| Notes | This capriccio is one of a pair, the other being Ruins of a Temple with an Apostle Preaching (A69). This architectural fantasy of ruined arches and pillars also includes some examples of antique sculpture - an obelisk and an overgrown urn - which often feature in similar works. The artist has added life to the scene with gesturing figures, a woman leading two bearded men through the arch and a group of bystanders. The woman is probably meant as a Sybil, one of the female prophets associated with pre-Christian wisdom, and her two companions may be the apostles Saints Paul and Barnabas. Such groups of figures were often recycled from earlier works. The monogram in the lower left-hand corner indicates that this is an early work by Panini. David Marshall of the University of Melbourne (2006) has identified this as a genuine Panini signature, and dates the work to c.1719. The title for this picture used by Holburne in his 1867 catalogue, "A Sibyl among the Ruins of Carthage", is incorrect. The woman carrying a book and gesturing inwards corresponds closely to the type of figure traditionally called a Sibyl, one of the female prophets associated with pre-Christian wisdom. However, it is possible that the two bearded figures, to whom she appears to be showing the way, are intended as prophets or apostles, rather than casual bystanders. The surrounding overgrown ruins would therefore symbolise the collapse of the old pagan culture with the arrival of Christianity. There are several examples by Panini and his circle of pairs of paintings, one with an Apostle, the other with a Sybil. Previous Attributions: Holburne catalogue 1867: 'Panini' – Dining Room Holburne catalogue 1887: 'Panini' Moeckler 1902: 'Panini' Horace Buttery 1906: 'not genuine' Blaker, pre 1913, 'Panini' A Register 1919, 'Panini' Holburne catalogue 1927: 'Panini' Holburne catalogue 1936: 'Panini' Correspondence with Arisi, 1960: 'dovrebbero essere giovanili (1720-25 circa)' – but photos in hand are not clear enough to be sure. Correspondence with David Marshall, 2006: suggests date of 1718-19 Related Versions: Arisi: Copy in the Musee des Beaux-Arts, Marseilles Another copy of the pair: Christies New York 16 Jan 1992, Lot 393. Another copy of A70 only : Sothebys New York, 14 October 1998, lot 45 |
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| Literature |
The Holburne of Menstrie Museum Catalogue: Part I: Pictures, Bath, 1936, no. 160, ill. pl. 12b C. Wright, Old Master Paintings in Britain: An Index of Continental Old Master Paintings executed before c.1800 in Public Collections in the United Kingdom, London, 1976, p. 155 C. Wright, Old Master Paintings in Britain: An Index of Continental Old Master Paintings executed before c.1800 in Public Collections in the United Kingdom, London, 1976, p. 155 F. Arisi, G.P. Panini e i Fasti della Roma del '700, Rome 1986, no. 112 |
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| Muse theme | The Art of Collecting |
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| Muse chapter |
The History of the Holburne Collection » Sir William Holburne and his Collection » Arranging the Collection: Sir William at Home
Oil paintings in the Holburne Museum |
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| Gallery Labels |
Giovanni Paolo Panini (1691-1765) A Sibyl amid the Ruins of Carthage Oil on canvas, c. 1730-40 The sibyl had the gift of making prophesies, which are inscribed in the book under her arm. She indicates to the Elders of Carthage the vase on which a bas-relief depicts an earlier prophesy she has made of the destruction of Carthage; the ruins around them illustrate how the prophesy has come true. Panini was born and trained in Piacenza but after 1711 worked exclusively in Rome as a painter, architect and stage designer. He taught perspective at the French Academy and was in great demand from English Grand Tourists as a painter of views of Rome's ruins and imaginary compositions of classical architecture, or 'capricci'. This painting hung in Sir William Holburne's dining room. It was recently conserved under the Museum's 'Adopt a Treasure' scheme. A70 (Unknown) Giovanni Paolo Panini (1691-1765) Ruins of a Temple with a Sibyl Oil on canvas, c.1730-40 Collection of Sir Thomas William Holburne Panini's and imaginary compositions of classical buildings and sculpture were very popular with British visitors to Rome. These capricci often combine buildings and sculpture from many different places into one scene, which is then brought to life with decorative figures. The woman carrying a book and gesturing inwards appears often in these works, and represents a Sibyl or prophetess. Her bearded male companions may be Apostles. Conserved under the Adopt a Treasure scheme. A70(Unknown) 21-4-2006 |
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| Method of acquisition | Bequest | |||||||||
| Provenance | Thomas William Holburne (1793-1874); by whom bequeathed to Mary Anne Barbara Holburne (1802-1882), by whom bequeathed to the Museum | |||||||||
| Exhibition history |
Title of exhibition: Art Treasures from the West Country Title of exhibition: Italian Treasures, Victorian and Edwardian Taste in Italian Art Title of exhibition: Town House Treasures: Sir William Holburne of Bath |
