The Temptation of St. Anthony (1506)
Original title: The Temptation of St. Anthony
kurzbeschreibung
Lucas Cranach the Elder made this woodcut in 1506, showing Saint Anthony beset by demons and a dragon. It is the second state of two according to Hollstein. The temptation scene sits within an elaborately worked landscape.
Description
A demon prince rides a winged dragon whose tail ends in claws and a tuft of hair. Around this central pair, other devilish figures are arranged in varied poses, some holding torches and swords. Saint Anthony stands amid the commotion. A landscape of mountains, a town and a river carries the layout, while a dense forest fills a broad area on the right. Precise linework and strong contrasts of light and dark define the image.
Context
The temptation of Anthony was a widespread theme in Christian art around 1506. Cranach drew on the medieval Legenda aurea, which describes the saint's assaults by demons. At the time he was court painter in Wittenberg and in contact with Dürer, whose influence shows in the careful execution of the woodcut.
Impact
The tight grouping of the figures and the fantastic demons give the print immediate drama. The quiet landscape behind acts as a calm counterweight to the pressing main scene. Clear lines lend it strong graphic force.
Technique
For this woodcut the design was cut into a woodblock and then printed onto paper. The second state shows changes from the first, of the kind that occur in impressions. Subtle lines and hatching attest to assured command of the medium.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)