The Temptation of St. Anthony
1470-75
Imagine being swarmed by every nightmare creature imaginable—fish-birds, spiky monsters, and winged beasts—all while trying to maintain your sanity. That’s the struggle for St. Anthony in this incredible 15th-century scene by Martin Schongauer. The artist packed the frame with grotesque demons pulling at the saint's clothes and beard, creating a chaotic scene of spiritual warfare. A young Michelangelo was so obsessed with this image that he copied it by hand and even traveled to find other works by Schongauer to study his technique!
- Technique
- Engraving