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
28.6 × 32.7 cm
Classification
Drawing
Department
Drawings
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of Muriel Butkin
Accession Number
2018.42
Rights
Public Domain
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.