Who painted Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie)?

Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie) was painted by Johann Liss.

Where can I see Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie)?

Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie) is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie)?

Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie) is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie)

Johann Liss

Versuchung des hl. Antonius (Werkstattkopie) is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Johann Liss. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The canvas, titled *Versuchung des hl.

About this work

Overview

The canvas, titled *Versuchung des hl. Antonius*, is a workshop copy dated to 1660. Though the hand of Johann Liss, a prominent German Baroque painter who worked in Venice, is credited to the studio rather than the master himself, the work reflects the early Italian Baroque aesthetic. It is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays a female figure in an elegant, flowing garment, clutching a gilded cup as she looms above two men on the ground. One man appears fatigued, while the other is partially draped in cloth. The scene suggests an offering or temptation, echoing the traditional narrative of Saint Anthony’s trials, though the precise iconography remains ambiguous.

Technique & Style

The painting employs strong chiaroscuro, with deep shadows contrasting against a soft illumination that highlights the woman’s face. Brushwork varies from smooth modeling to pronounced, impasto strokes, giving the figures a tactile surface. The dramatic lighting and dynamic arrangement are characteristic of early Baroque drama, while the textured application adds a sense of immediacy.

History & Provenance

Created as a studio replica after an earlier composition, the work was produced roughly three decades after Liss’s death (circa 1630). It entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it has been catalogued as a representative example of workshop production linked to Liss’s Venetian period.

Context

During the early 17th‑century Italian Baroque, artists frequently revisited religious subjects such as the temptations of Saint Anthony, using dramatic light and emotive gestures to engage viewers. Workshop copies like this one served both pedagogical purposes and market demand, allowing the style of a celebrated master to reach a broader audience.