The Temptation of Saint Anthony

Teniers would have been acquainted with similar versions of the hagiography of Saint Anthony of Egypt, as well as other depictions of the tale in the visual arts. He developed the theme over several paintings in which different variations of the daemons can be seen. Several of these works are held in important public collections, including the Rijksmuseum, the Hermitage and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, to name but a few. In each version the balance is maintained between the demonic multitude and the symbols of religious salvation, in the form of the crucifix and the open Bible. Though Teniers executed this painting with delicate humour - the clawed frog who strains at Anthony’s robe, the expression of worried surprise on Anthony’s face – the underlying message would have been a serious concern to his 17th-century audience: a choice between worldliness and eternal life. The skull resting on the table, representative of vanitas, serves to reinforce this notion.