Cleveland Museum of Art

The Temptation of St. Anthony

Julien Léopold Boilly

Date

19th century

Medium

Black chalk with white, pink, orange, ochre, and brown chalks on blue paper

Culture

France, 19th century

Department

Drawings

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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.

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