Domenico Morelli: The Temptation Of Saint Anthony (1878)

(Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna, Rome, Italy)

A painting by the Italian artist Domenico Morelli (1826-1901). Saint Anthony 'the great' of Egypt was born from wealthy parents but after their death, he gave away all his earthly possessions and decided to live an ascetic life. During his time alone in the Egyptian desert, it was said that the devil tried to seduce the saint by offering him all kind of temptations: food, drink, demons who attacked him, women who offered their body etc. This period in the saint's life, known as 'the temptation of saint Anthony' is a popular theme in Christian art. Morelli gives a more subtle version of the temptation: the saint is sitting in his cave while naked women offer sexual services. Painting from 1878.

See also other versions of the temptation:- Jheronimus Bosch: The temptation of saint Anthony (Kansas-city version, 1500-1510)
- Pieter Coecke van Aelst: The temptation of saint Anthony (1543-1550)