Artwork

Three preparatory studies for the Burning of the Books at Ephesus

Three preparatory studies for the Burning of the Books at Ephesus is a drawing by the Baroque artist James Thornhill. It dates from 1715 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Three ink studies by Sir James Thornhill were produced as preparatory sketches for a large illusionistic lunette intended for the interior dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The composition illustrates the biblical episode of the burning of the books at Ephesus, one of ten narrative panels planned for the dome’s rim.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts the episode recorded in Acts 19:1‑19, in which the apostle Paul confronts the local craftsmen, leading them to discard their pagan texts and set them aflame. Thornhill’s studies focus on the dramatic moment of the conflagration and the surrounding figures, emphasizing the triumph of Christian teaching over idolatry.

Technique & Style

Each study began as a loose pencil sketch, later reinforced with pen and ink. Thornhill employed rapid, gestural lines and cross‑hatching to suggest the turbulence of fire and the movement of the crowd, reflecting the Baroque preference for dynamic, emotionally charged compositions.

History & Provenance

The commission to decorate St Paul’s dome was awarded to Thornhill in 1715; he completed the full decorative program by 1717. These preparatory drawings survive as part of the artist’s working material, illustrating his process from initial conception to the final painted lunette.