Artwork Page for The Temptation of St. Anthony

Details / Information for The Temptation of St. Anthony

The Temptation of St. Anthony

1470–75

Martin Schongauer

(German, c. 1450–1491)
Culture
Germany
Medium
engraving
Measurements
Sheet: 29.9 x 22.1 cm (11 3/4 x 8 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund 1923.227
Catalogue raisonné
Lehrs V.243.54
State
II/II
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
?

Did You Know?

Prints of Saint Anthony like this one were believed to function as protective tools against ergotism (also called St. Anthony's Fire), a disease causing painful putrefaction of the limbs cased by fungus found on rye.

Description

Saint Anthony (c. AD 251–356) was an Egyptian hermit known for having established the ideal of monasticism, seclusion, and meditation in Christianity. According to the Life of Saint Anthony written by the 20th bishop of Alexandria Athanasius (c. AD 360), Anthony was assaulted by several demons and tormented by erotic visions during his retreat to the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Martin Schongauer's print marks the very moment in which a highly animated demonic attack took place in the sky. Nine whimsical monsters—composed of reptilian, mammalian, and fish- and bird-like parts—flap, blow, and grasp a stiff and indifferent Saint Anthony. With his firm discipline, the saint epitomizes the Christian's struggle to resist evil temptations.
Print of black ink on pale cream paper depicting Saint Anthony, a man with light skin tone, crown balding, wavy beard, and monk robes, looking down to our right as he's encircled by nine monsters, tugging at him as he hovers mid-air. Different amalgamations of animal body parts create the monsters with wings, horns, scales, tails, fur, and more. They bare their teeth and tug at him, some raising sticks in the air.

The Temptation of St. Anthony

1470–75

Martin Schongauer

(German, c. 1450–1491)
Germany

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