Temptation of Saint Anthony

Discussion

FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

This is a copy of a painting by the early 16th-century Netherlandish artist Hieronymus Bosch, known for his fantastical illustrations of religious themes. Saint Anthony kneels at the center; around him, hybrid beings represent the supernatural torments and worldly temptations he experienced during his exile in the desert. The saint's raised right hand can be seen as an expression of faith and perseverance. The burning village in the background refers to Saint Anthony's fire, a disease whose victims invoked the name of the saint for relief.

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