Jheronimus Bosch: The Temptation of Saint Anthony (Kansas-city version, 1500-1510)

(Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, USA)

A painting which was recently attributed to the Dutch artist Jheronimus Bosch (1450 – 1516). Subject is a very popular theme regarding saint Anthony of Egypt (A.D. 251–356). Anthony lived as a hermit in the desert during which the devil tried to influence Anthony into leaving the ascetic life by afflicting him with boredom, laziness, and the phantoms of women. By the power of prayer Anthony overcame all these problems. The attempts of the devil is a very popular theme in Christian art (see links below for other versions). Bosch shows the saint filling a pot with water while demons are pictured below. Painting from 1500-1510.

Another painting of this theme: Pieter Coecke van Aelst: The temptation of Saint Anthony the Great (1543-1550)