Temptation of Saint Anthony
Artist
David Teniers II
(Flemish, 1610 - 1690)
Dateca. 1665
Object number58.0055
Mediumoil on canvas
Dimensions43 7/8 × 57 1/2 in. (111.4 × 146.1 cm)
frame: 54 1/2 × 69 7/8 × 4 in. (138.4 × 177.5 × 10.2 cm)
frame: 54 1/2 × 69 7/8 × 4 in. (138.4 × 177.5 × 10.2 cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineMuseo de Arte de Ponce. The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc.
Collections
On View
Not on viewDescriptionAccording to medieval legend, Saint Anthony the Abbot lived as a hermit and withstood the horrible demonic apparitions that plagued him. This favorite subject allowed Teniers to paint imaginary creatures to convey the terrifying nature of the saint’s experience. A horned female servant interrupts St. Anthony’s prayer to point at an elegantly-dressed lady entering the scene from the left bringing a glass. The scene is attended by monsters of different sizes and types, from a flying fish on the top left to a hybrid creature making noise with a shawn. Though beautiful in first sight, the lady’s feet have talons that reveal her true nature.
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