The artwork, entitled “Triptych of Temptation of St Anthony (detail),” was created by Hieronymus Bosch between the years 1505 and 1506. This oil-on-panel piece, measuring 53 x 131.5 cm, is a prime example of the Northern Renaissance art movement and falls under the genre of religious painting. It is a component of Bosch’s broader series, “The Temptation of St. Anthony.”
The artwork portrays an intricate scene populated by bizarre and fantastical characters, ranging from human-animal hybrids to demonic figures. St. Anthony is depicted in the foreground, surrounded by these malevolent entities as he reads, maintaining a calm demeanor amidst the chaos. The background features a surreal landscape with oddly shaped buildings and a distant town, overshadowed by an eerie sky wherein peculiar figures ride a fish. The overall scene exudes an atmosphere of turmoil and temptation, illustrating the saint’s trials and spiritual resilience, characteristic of Bosch’s vivid imagination and innovative approach to religious themes.
