The Temptation of St. Anthony

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

The group of demonic figures attacking Saint Anthony was inspired by the Martin Schongauer engraving of the same subject from about 1475, though the extensive landscape is a fine example of Cranach's individual style. The Temptation of Saint Anthony has possible connections to the Chancellor of Wittenberg University, Goswin von Orsoy (1450-1515), who was also the preceptor of the Antonite monastery at nearby Lichtenburg. The group of buildings in the scene may represent this monastery, which was later destroyed; the monastery also owned a chapel in Wittenberg where there was an altarpiece of Saint Anthony.

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