“The Temptation of St. Anthony” by Hieronymus Bosch, created between 1470 and 1516, is a renowned oil painting on panel belonging to the Northern Renaissance movement. This religious triptych, measuring 119 x 131.5 cm, is housed in the National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA) in Lisbon, Portugal. The artwork is part of the series known as “The Temptation of St. Anthony.”
The artwork exhibits Bosch’s distinctive style, showcasing a vivid and intricate landscape filled with fantastical and nightmarish elements. The left panel displays St. Anthony enduring various trials and torments in a peculiar, otherworldly realm. The central panel features more complex and chaotic scenes, presumably representing the peak of the saint’s spiritual battles, with flames and bizarre creatures abounding. The right panel depicts St. Anthony in a quieter moment, possibly signifying his eventual triumph over the temptations and trials. Within these panels, Bosch integrates symbolic representations and meticulous details, characteristic of his enigmatic visual narratives.
