Temptation of Saint Anthony

Liss employs a limited, chiaroscuro lighting scheme that isolates the central figures; the woman’s face and the cup emit a soft illumination against a dark background. The dramatic contrast and dynamic arrangement reflect the Baroque emphasis on movement and emotional intensity.

After its creation in Venice, the painting entered various collections before being acquired by the Bavarian State, where it was placed in the Alte Pinakothek. Its provenance traces a typical path for Baroque works that moved from private hands to public museums in the 19th century.

Liss’s career bridged Northern and Italian artistic traditions, and this work illustrates his adaptation of Venetian coloristic richness to the vigorous narrative style favored by the Baroque. The subject of Saint Anthony’s temptations was a popular motif for artists exploring spiritual struggle.