The Temptation of St. Anthony
Julien Léopold Boilly (French, 1796–1874)
19th century
Medium
Black chalk with white, pink, orange, ochre, and brown chalks on blue paper
Dimensions
{"sheet":{"height":0.286,"width":0.327}}
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of Muriel Butkin
Accession Number
2018.42
Tags
male
About this artwork
Boilly’s scene represents the Temptations of Saint Anthony, a biblical subject. While embarking on his desert pilgrimage through Egypt, Anthony experienced a series of supernatural trials. Here, Boilly illustrated a nude nymph attempting to seduce him. Anthony’s horrified reaction to the woman’s embrace and the prominent crucifix on the right create a humorous juxtaposition between piety and lustful desire.