Ananias or The False Artist : Walter Pach [ Art Criticism , Eccentric ]
$35
In stock
Description
Infamously odd and angry piece of art criticism by Walter Pach Ananias or The False Artist
Pach, Walter. Ananias or The False Artist. Harper and Brothers : New York and London. 1928. First Edition.
A very unusual piece of art criticism, Ananias or The False Artist is in many ways a manifesto, tearing apart examples of false art and false artists, in the author Walter Pach ‘s opinion, with a special emphasis on supposed nepotism and corruption behind then-recently added sculptures and paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As the New York Times put it, the book “creat[ed] no end of stir” with its “attack” on “official art”.
Interestingly, Pach makes a point of explaining his inspiration and the origin of his title in the biblical story of Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts.
Per the account in Acts Chapter 5, Ananais and his wife Sapphira were early Christians who broke with the custom of communally sharing their wealth. After selling a plot of land, they secretly withheld some of the money for themselves before they were discovered by Saint Peter. Ananais is accused of lying not to men but to God, an unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit, and collapses dead on the spot.
8vo, 281pp, three-quarter bound cloth boards, title, author, and publisher gilt stamped to spine. Some wear and soiling bottom board edge. Small stain front board top edge near fore corner. Bruise by hinge, back board top edge. Toned grey – blue endpapers and pastedowns. Half title through dedication page foxed, pages otherwise clean except for some pencil underlines and check marks. Small handwritten notation back free endpaper. Illustrated throughout with 32 photographic plates. Good condition.
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