DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.59565#0036
CARTONS OF RAPHAEL URBTN.
CARTON V.
ELYMAS, THE SORCERER, STRUCK WITH BLINDNESS.
And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou
shalt be blind, not seeing the light of the sun for a season.
And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness,
and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.—
Acts, chap. xiii. ver. 2.
Th ough terror and astonishment are strongly ex-
pressed in this picture, yet it appears of a different kind,
and produces a different effect from that in the carton of
the Death of Ananias. The punishment of Elymas was
to him dreadful and grievous, and to the beholders ter-
rifying and wonderful; but is apparently considered by
them no otherwise than as it relates to this instance of
the divine judgment inflicted on him. The death of
Ananias inspired hprror also, not without a mixture of
pity for the sufferer, who, before the discovery of his
crime, was probably esteemed as a good and devout
man ; on the contrary, the sorcerer was a person of whom
it may reasonably be judged the people stood in awe;
and that he was rather feared on account of his power,
than beloved for his virtues. This will evidently appear,
when the manner in which Raphael has told this story is
considered. Every one of the spectators discovers terror
and surprise ; but none (except one of the lictors, who
stands near the proconsul) discovers the least expression
of pity. Elymas, though in the midst of numbers, ap-
pears to be alone; and he extends his arms in vain,
“ seeking some to lead him by the hand nor does the
CARTON V.
ELYMAS, THE SORCERER, STRUCK WITH BLINDNESS.
And now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou
shalt be blind, not seeing the light of the sun for a season.
And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness,
and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.—
Acts, chap. xiii. ver. 2.
Th ough terror and astonishment are strongly ex-
pressed in this picture, yet it appears of a different kind,
and produces a different effect from that in the carton of
the Death of Ananias. The punishment of Elymas was
to him dreadful and grievous, and to the beholders ter-
rifying and wonderful; but is apparently considered by
them no otherwise than as it relates to this instance of
the divine judgment inflicted on him. The death of
Ananias inspired hprror also, not without a mixture of
pity for the sufferer, who, before the discovery of his
crime, was probably esteemed as a good and devout
man ; on the contrary, the sorcerer was a person of whom
it may reasonably be judged the people stood in awe;
and that he was rather feared on account of his power,
than beloved for his virtues. This will evidently appear,
when the manner in which Raphael has told this story is
considered. Every one of the spectators discovers terror
and surprise ; but none (except one of the lictors, who
stands near the proconsul) discovers the least expression
of pity. Elymas, though in the midst of numbers, ap-
pears to be alone; and he extends his arms in vain,
“ seeking some to lead him by the hand nor does the