Lot 2055 Dα

Saint Anthony was born into a family of wealthy farmers from Come in Egypt (modern-day Qiman al-Arus). Following the death of his parents when he was just 18, Anthony was forced to take over the running of their estate and raise his younger sister alone. From that time onwards, he lived by the words of Christ: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21). He sold everything he owned, entrusted his sister to the care of a community of female ascetics, and in the year 275 he began life as a hermit, living in extreme poverty. During his solitude he was visited by many demons who came to tempt him. According to legend, the devil appeared to him in the form of one or more beautiful women and he was wounded, dragged by the hair and thrown to the ground by claws, teeth, and horns. When his hut went up in flames, he was finally swept up into the air and subjected to numerous attacks. Ever more people came to visit Anthony in his hermitage, asking for advice. Sick visitors asked to be healed, and priests and ascetics wanted to learn from him. He gradually amassed a number of disciples and smaller hermitages sprang up around him. Thus, Anthony became the founder of monasteries and father of monastic life in general. The present work belongs to a group of paintings by this master depicting the temptations of Saint Anthony. Some depict him beside his hut on a rock whilst others, such as the present work, show him in a cave. The figures and creatures sent to tempt the saint also vary within Teniers' works. Klaus Ertz dates the present panel to the 1640s.