“The Temptation of St. Anthony (detail)” is an artwork created by Hieronymus Bosch between 1460 and 1516. It is an oil painting on a panel, belonging to the Northern Renaissance art movement and falling under the genre of religious painting. The artwork is part of a series titled “The Temptation of St. Anthony.”
The artwork presents a rich, dramatic scene with a dark, foreboding atmosphere. The composition includes a village under siege by chaotic, supernatural forces, which is characteristic of Bosch’s intricate and allegorical style. There are flames and smoke engulfing buildings in the background, while eerie figures and fantastical elements populate the scene. In the foreground, there are structures reminiscent of medieval architecture, along with a few human figures engaged in various activities, suggesting a sense of everyday life amidst the turmoil. The artwork exemplifies Bosch’s ability to merge the surreal and the real, focusing on the religious theme of St. Anthony’s temptation and the trials he faced.
