Hieronymus Bosch was a fifteenth-century Netherlandish artist famous for his fantastic depictions of bizarre, imaginary creatures. This image of the central panel from the Triptych of Temptation of St Anthony provides a wonderful example of his distinct style and generally moralizing message. After forsaking all worldly possessions, St Anthony withdrew to the Egyptian desert, where he lived an ascetic, secluded life for many years. During this time he suffered both physical and mental ordeals referred to as “temptations”; in art, these sufferings are symbolized by devils and lascivious hallucinations. In Bosch’s painting, monstrous fiends surround Anthony, located in the center in a blue robe, on all sides as he kneels in front of a dilapidated tomb. Bosch’s typical bizarre, imaginary creatures and setting make this a unique presentation of Anthony’s experience. The grotesque beasts are not physically tormenting the hermit saint, but are manifestations of the carnal appetites Anthony was tempted with in what constituted a spiritual attack. Lust, in particular, can be identified in the grouping of a monk and prostitute drinking together in a tent in the far right. In this painting Bosch employed vivid coloring with rich reds and greens contrasted with grays, browns and bright white highlights. As in his other depictions of hermits, here Bosch’s representation only loosely follows the written, standard account of St Anthony’s experiences. Instead, he uses this subject as an opportunity to explore his own views of morality, self-control and the rejection of all earthly vices. Similar to contemporary northern humanists, Bosch admired those saints who overcame physical and spiritual tribulation and in this scene, Anthony faces the viewer with his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing, believed to provide protection against the devil and indicative of his triumph over the surrounding carnal enticements. His victory over sin is furthered emphasized by the half-hidden figure of Christ making the same hand motion in ...