David Tenier The Younger (att.), The Temptations Of Saint Anthony The Abbot

David Tenier the Younger (act.)
Antwerp, 1610 – Brussels, 1690

The temptations of Saint Anthony the Abbot
oil on canvas, cm. 45×60 Within a gilded wooden frame, not contemporary

The painting, in a very good state of conservation, takes up a very successful theme in 17th century Flemish painting, that of the temptations that Saint Anthony is forced to resist in his constant fight against the Devil. The painter manages here, thanks to the loose brushstrokes, the richness of the details, the representation of the characters, the landscapes and the fantastic animals that animate the scenes, to create an atmosphere that is both intimate and mysterious. Saint Anthony, kneeling in prayer, is represented surrounded by a multitude of grotesque demons and fantastic creatures.

The arrangement of the characters, and the way in which they are arranged in different planes, the chiaroscuro desired between the foreground and the background of the work create a sense of depth and perspective, drawing the viewer's attention to the saint at the center of the work. 'Opera. The artist uses a rich and vibrant color palette, with contrasting warm and cool tones. The dark and gloomy tones in the demons and creatures highlight San Antonio, who appears illuminated by a light coming down from a hole in the roof which - deliberately - highlights his figure and the one opposite him, the serpent - symbol of the Evil One, in the part bottom right of the canvas.

Teniers created several versions of The Temptation of St. Anthony during his career including the one in the collection of the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain, the one in the State Collection of the Dresden Museum or, to name just one more, the one in the collections of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.