The Temptation of Saint Anthony (second version)

The Witches' Sabbath was said to be the meeting of sinister forces for devil worship through dancing, feasting, or sacrifices. In depicting this orgy of bodies and monsters, artists often borrowed from religious imagery. Numerous Renaissance images provided Jacques Callot with a litany of fantastic creatures for his widely influential Temptation of Saint Anthony, depicting the steadfast saint as he endures the mental and spiritual tortures of hell.

A horizontally oriented etching in black ink depicts a hellish landscape teeming with hybrid monsters. Top center, a colossal winged demon looms over the chaos. To the right, Saint Anthony, an elderly white-haired man in robes, is tormented among stone ruins. The foreground features a fire-breathing creature on wheels. Latin inscriptions and a central coat of arms line the bottom margin, framing the dense, sprawling scene of infernal torment.

The Temptation of Saint Anthony (second version)

1635

Jacques Callot

(French, 1592–1635)

France, 17th century

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