The Temptation of St. Anthony, 17th century
David Teniers, the Youngerexpand_more
Oil on panelexpand_more
The Walter H. and Valborg P. Ude Memorial Fund and gift of funds from Mr. and Mrs. Atherton Beanexpand_more 76.31
On View in Gallery 309expand_more
Saint Anthony was a hermit in the 300s, rarely emerging from the cave where he lived in the Egyptian desert. But even there, according to legend, his faith in God was fought by the devil. The devil sent demons to beat him and alluring women to distract him from his prayers. Saint Anthony never wavered.
Anthony’s story proved popular with artists and their clients, just as evil creatures and sexy women are popular in all types of media today. David Teniers’ painting of the story was so sought after that there are at least five known versions. Teniers probably painted a prototype, which was then partly copied by his assistants. He would complete the copies by executing some of the trickiest elements, such as the books, vessels, and crucifix.
Details
- Title
- The Temptation of St. Anthony
- Artist Life
- 1610–1694/96
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 76.31
- Provenance
- (Herman Shickman Gallery, New York, New York by 1975); sold to MIA in 1976.
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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