The Temptation of Saint Anthony (after Camillo Procaccini, 1555-1629)

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The Temptation of Saint Anthony (after Camillo Procaccini, 1555-1629)

Artist Abraham Blooteling (Dutch, 1640-1690)

Date17th century

DimensionsOverall: 15 1/8 x 9 3/8 in. (38.4 x 23.8 cm)

MediumMezzotint

ClassificationPrints

Credit LineWilliam J. Hitchcock Fund in memory of Grace J. Hitchcock

Object number

1993.83

Not on View

Label TextAccording to legend, the early Christian hermit Saint received vivid hallucinations from the devil in an effort to tempt the hermit to renounce his faith. The subject became a popular one in art, often depicted as a supernatural struggle with evil. Here Saint Anthony lies on his side, twisting to confront the forces surrounding him. He is being held down. As he attempts to raise himself, his tormentors—demonic creatures wielding clubs, chains, and burning torches—bear down upon him. Camillo Procaccini was an Italian painter and etcher from Bologna who lived and worked in Milan. Abraham Blooteling’s interpretation of Procaccini’s design fully exploited the ability of the mezzotint to render extreme contrasts of light and dark (tenebrism), a hallmark of Baroque style.Exhibition HistoryTMA, The Dramatic Image: Baroque Prints of the 17th Century, February 25 - July 31, 2011.