Saint Anthony was born in 251 ad in Egypt, he was a religious hermit, a devout recluse living in solitude in the eastern desert in Egypt. During the course of his retreat he began his legendary combat agains the devil who tried to lure him away from his faith in Jesus and wanted to convince him to follow him the Satan. But by fasting and performing other ascetic practices he attained a state of spiritual purity and freedom from temptation. But at times the Devil appeared in the guise of a monk bringing him bread and delicacies during his fasts or tempted him with beautiful woman and sexual offers. St Anthony endured many such attacks but every vision conjured up by Satan was repelled by Anthony’s fervid prayer and penitential acts. Many artists have made paintings of the temptations incl Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Salvator Dali.

In my version I did not paint St Anthony at all but focussed on the temptation itself, a beautiful young girl trying to seduce Anthony. Therefore the viewer takes the place of Anthony and sees, as it were, the temptation of Anthony with his own eyes