The Temptation of St. Anthony

As opposed to his somber hued portraits, Fantin-Latour's conceptual works are filled with rich colors and movement-filled brush work. St. Anthony was an Egyptian monk. During his period of ascetic practice in the Theban desert, the saint was tormented by seductive witches and his endurance through these trials is legendary. Here these evil spirits appear as dancing beautiful women that entwine themselves around the saint. The saint turns his eyes towards heaven and appeals to God for salvation. (Source: The Digital Gallery. 1999-2006)