There's a program called `durdraw` for Linux that works well for 'playing' the files. But it won't leave it on the screen afterward as far as I can tell. Also look for the Perfect DOS VGA 437 font.

durdraw -p file.ans

Durdraw actually can open the files directly from 16colo.rs (File Open screen, tab to or click on "16colo.rs archive"). You don't need to download them first.

It also includes a program called "durview" for just viewing instead of editing the files. It works quite nicely for browsing the live 16colo.rs archive.

Since Durdraw and Durview automatically convert from CP437 to Utf-8, you don't need a custom font. It's very nice.

For leaving on the screen, you can load the ANSI file in Durdraw, then save it as a Utf-8 ANSI. That converts the character encoding to be Linux compatible. Then you can just "cat" the file from the console.

It's an ncurses application, so it will be switching to and from the alternate screen buffer at startup and exit; and might even be using the control sequence that causes the alternate screen buffer to be auto-cleared when switched off.

I would suggest this range of fonts over Perfect DOS VGA 437: https://int10h.org/oldschool-pc-fonts/