Hieronymus Bosch, The Temptation of Saint Anthony
ca 1500-10Paintings sorted by Historical period | Painter | Subject matter | Pigments used
Overview
The ‘Temptation of Saint Anthony’ triptych consists of four parts: the left panel depicts the flight and fall of Saint Anthony. The center panel shows the temptations he was subjected to. The right panel depicts the contemplation of Saint Anthony, while the back sides of both side panels show scenes from the life of Christ painted in grisaille (monochrome or near monochrome painting technique).
The triptych was thoroughly investigated by The Bosch Research and Conservation Project. The results of this investigation were published in a magnificent book referenced below. An extensive interactive online feature at the website of the project complements the book and shows all the images from the book in high resolution.
The pigment analysis reveals a limited palette consisting of the cheaper pigments employed in the Renaissance period, such as azurite, malachite, lead-tin yellow, and ochres.
Medium: Oil and tempera
Support: Oak
Size: 131.5 x 119 cm (central panel)
131.5 x 53 cm (side panels)
Art period: Renaissance
Parts of the Triptych
Left Panel: ‘The Flight and Fall of Saint Anthony’
Central Panel: ‘The Temptations’
Right Panel: ‘The Contemplation of Saint Anthony’
Outside Panels: ‘The Life of Christ’
Pigments
Pigment Analysis
This pigment analysis is based on the work of the scientists at The Bosch Research and Conservation Project (1). The scientists employed x-ray radiography (XRR), infrared photography (IRP) and infrared reflectography (IRR) to gain insights into the inner layers of the painting and to identify the pigments.
Left Panel: ‘The Flight and Fall of Saint Anthony’
1 White letter: lead white with a red dot and black lettering.
Center Panel: ‘The Temptations of Saint Anthony’
2 Bluish-green sky: azurite and lead white.
3 Greenish landscape in the background: azurite and malachite.
4 Pinkish robe of the woman behind Saint Anthony: lead white and red lake hatching.
References
(1) Luuk Hoogstede, Ron Spronk, Matthijs Ilsink, Robert G. Erdmann, Jos Koldeweij, Rik Klein Gotink, Hieronymus Bosch, Painter and Draughtsman: Technical Studies, Yale University Press, 2016, pp. 88 – 107.
Pigments Used in This Painting
Resources
See the collection of online and offline resources such as books, articles, videos, and websites on Hieronymus Bosch in the section ‘Resources on Painters‘
PowerPoint Presentations
Painter in Context: Hieronymus Bosch
A richly illustrated presentation on the painting technique and pigments employed by Hieronymus Bosch specially crafted for Art Education. (Number of Slides = 20)
- Each presentation starts with the basic resources on the painter such as his biography, main catalogs of his paintings, and a bibliography.
- Next, you find slides describing the painting technique of the artist and the pigments he usually employed in his work.
- The majority of the slides show examples of paintings containing the specific pigments.
Slides showing the basic resources on the life and works of the Northern Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch.
The painting technique and all pigments employed by Bosch are shown in the next slides.
The majority of the slides show important examples of paintings where Bosch employed specific pigments. The slides are organized according to the color of the pigments.
Videos
Video: 'The Temptations of St. Anthony' by Byron Thomas
Video: 'The Temptations of St. Anthony' by Jones Gallery
Video: 'The Temptations of St. Anthony' by Luigi Manfredi
Publications and Websites
Publications
(1) Matthijs Ilsink, Jos Koldeweij, Hieronymus Bosch: Painter and Draughtsman – Catalogue raisonné, Yale University Press, New Haven and London; 2016. pp 140-159.
This book is also available online in pdf format in two parts: part I and part II.
(2) Luuk Hoogstede, Ron Spronk, Matthijs Ilsink, Robert G. Erdmann, Jos Koldeweij, Rik Klein Gotink, Hieronymus Bosch, Painter and Draughtsman: Technical Studies, Yale University Press, 2016, pp. 88 – 107.
(3) Charles D. Cuttler, The Lisbon Temptation of St. Anthony by Jerome Bosch, The Art Bulletin Vol. 39, No. 2 (Jun. 1957), pp. 109-126. DOI: 10.2307/3047695.
(4) Laurinda S. Dixon, Bosch’s “St. Anthony Triptych”–An Apothecary’s Apotheosis, Art Journal, Vol. 44, No. 2, Art and Science: Part I, Life Sciences (Summer, 1984), pp. 119-131. DOI: 10.2307/776751
(5) Daniel Mc Dermon, Art Gone to Hell: A Boschian Bestiary, The New York Times online, March 4, 2016.
Websites
Website of the Bosch Project
Website of the Bosch Research and Conservation Project
