Temptation Of St. Anthony 1893

Henri Fantin-Latour painted this ‘Temptation Of St. Anthony’ in France, likely during the second half of the 19th century. This was a period in which academic painting was being challenged by new artistic currents. The subject of the temptation of Saint Anthony was popular in Western art. Fantin-Latour shows Anthony kneeling in prayer, attempting to avert his gaze from the three nudes who surround him. These women symbolize temptation, their soft flesh luminous against the darker tones of the landscape. Fantin-Latour uses a painterly style, with loose brushstrokes and muted colors. The painting reflects the social norms of its time, in which the nude female form was considered an appropriate subject for art, while religious piety was held in high esteem. Fantin-Latour neither critiques the institutions of art, nor does he challenge social norms; instead, he uses the visual codes and cultural references of his time to create a work that is both beautiful and thought-provoking. To fully appreciate this painting, one could research the art market in 19th-century France, considering how this affected the production and reception of the artwork.