The Temptation of St Anthony (Bosch) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Temptation of St. Anthony |
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Artist | Hieronymus Bosch, or follower |
Year | c. 1500–1525 |
Type | Oil on panel |
Dimensions | 73 cm × 52.5 cm (29 in × 20.7 in) |
Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Temptation of St. Anthony is a famous painting. People aren't sure if it was painted by Hieronymus Bosch himself or by one of his students. Today, you can see this artwork at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. It shows a story about a saint facing challenges.
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Painting's Journey
This painting used to be in the Escorial monastery. It was later moved to the Prado museum. It's thought that Philip II of Spain sent this painting to the monastery in 1574. This version of the painting feels calmer than another famous painting by Bosch, a triptych (a three-part painting) with the same name, which is in Lisbon.
When Was It Painted?
It's hard to know the exact date for any of Bosch's artworks. However, experts believe this painting was made later in his career, probably between 1500 and 1516.
Who Painted It?
For a long time, people thought Hieronymus Bosch painted this artwork. But in 2016, a group of researchers studied all of Bosch's known paintings. After five years, they announced that they had strong doubts. They now believe the painting was made by one of Bosch's followers, not by Bosch himself.
What the Painting Shows
The painting shows Saint Anthony the Abbot deep in thought. He is in a sunny outdoor scene, sitting near a dry tree trunk. Saint Anthony appears often in Bosch's art. Bosch painted him about 15 times! These paintings were inspired by old stories about Saint Anthony. These stories can be found in books like the Golden Legend and his Life by Athanasius of Alexandria.
Saint Anthony is shown in a quiet, lonely place. This setting reminds us of the challenges and temptations he faced for over twenty years. This painting is different from other Saint Anthony artworks by Bosch, like the triptych. But some things are always the same for the abbot. He wears a dark brown robe with the Greek letter "tau" on it. He also has a pig by his side.
A Peaceful Scene
In this painting, Saint Anthony seems very calm. His surroundings are peaceful and give a feeling of quietness. The pig lies next to him, almost like a pet. In earlier paintings, the creatures tempting Saint Anthony looked like scary demons. But in this artwork, they look more like small, harmless goblins. They don't disturb the peaceful mood of the painting at all.
This painting originally had a rounded top, like an arch. It was one of Bosch's later works, painted sometime after 1490. King Philip II of Spain sent it to the Monastery of El Escorial. From there, it became part of the Royal Collection and eventually moved to the Museo del Prado.
See also
In Spanish: Las tentaciones de san Antonio Abad (el Bosco) para niños
- Triptych of the Temptation of St. Anthony
- List of paintings by Hieronymus Bosch