Verzoeking van Antonius 1717 - 1763

Pietro Monaco made this print, The Temptation of Saint Anthony, in the 18th century, after a design by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. It shows Saint Anthony being assailed by demons who offer earthly temptations. In this image, we see how anxieties about the individual’s relationship with religious institutions play out in the art of the time. Anthony’s placement on a rocky outcropping suggests the isolation of monastic life, but that choice is constantly under threat by outside forces of temptation. The male and female figures who embody temptation are depicted as beautiful and seductive, which visually implies a critique of the monastic values of celibacy and renunciation. By understanding the social and institutional context of Monaco's time, through careful analysis of historical documents, we can gain a deeper understanding of the public role and political meanings of art.