The Temptation of Saint Anthony
Artist:
Earl Staley
(American, born 1938)
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions:
72 x 156 3/4 in. (182.9 x 398.1 cm)
Credit Line: Purchased with funds provided by The Brown Foundation
Object number: 78.1283
Label Text
A recurring subject throughout art history, the Temptation of Saint Anthony refers to the Christian monk’s pilgrimage through the Egyptian desert, during which he endured numerous supernatural temptations. Many depictions of this subject focus on torment with fantastic imagery of demons and destruction, such as the works by German artists Martin Schongauer (ca. 1470/75) and Mathias Grünewald (1512/16). Staley’s landscape is idyllic—akin to the Netherlandish artist Hieronymous Bosch’s painting from 1500/25, in which the monk is presented reclining in meditation near a stream.
Saint Anthony is cited as the first monk to lead an ascetic life in the wilderness. Staley’s panoramic canvas engulfs viewers in a setting where they can contemplate the sublimity of nature.
(Label text, 2017)
Saint Anthony is cited as the first monk to lead an ascetic life in the wilderness. Staley’s panoramic canvas engulfs viewers in a setting where they can contemplate the sublimity of nature.
(Label text, 2017)
Not on view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
