The temptation of Saint Anthony, Mattheus van Helmont

Flemish school of the 17th century.

Mattheus van Helmont (1623-1679) Active in Antwerp where he was born and in Brussels.
he was influenced by the work of David Teniers the Younger and Adriaen Brouwer.

This interesting version of the vision of Saint Anthony, painted after Bosch, Brueghel and Teniers, depicts the saint beset by the devil in the form of earthly pleasures. Here he is a hermit at the entrance to a grotto.
Surrounded by monsters, bats, fish-bodied dwarves, horny women, little demons and imps.

Painting on canvas, lining (80x55cm)

19th century Loupe frame (96x71cm)