Jheronimus Bosch: The Hermit Saints Triptych (1493)

(Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice, Italy)

A painting by the Dutch artist Jheronimus Bosch (1450 – 1516). This piece shows three Christian anchorite saints (a saint who withdrew from society and lived intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, or Eucharist-focused life).

- left panel: Saint Anthony the Great (A.D. 251 – 356). This saint is shown in a nocturnal landscape in which he is collecting the marshy water of a pool with a jar, surrounded by demonic visions such as the naked woman appearing behind a tent in company of several devils.

- center panel: saint Jerome of Stridon (A.D. 347-420). The saint is kneeling in the desert and is praying at a crucifix. The throne before him contains a unicorn and scenes from the story of Judith and Holofernes. Both refer to the internal struggle against impure thoughts.

- right panel: saint Giles of Athens (A.D. 650-710). He is praying in a grotto in which is also a roll is located. According to the legend this scroll contains all the names of those to be saved thanks to his intercession. The saint is shot by an arrow, originally destined to the fawn at his feet,

Painting from 1493.