Saint Anthony the Abbot in a Natural Landscape – Flemish School, late 16th – early 17th century

Saint Anthony the Abbot in a Natural Landscape – Flemish School, late 16th – early 17th century

Medium: Oil on panel

Date: Late 16th – early 17th century

School: Flemish

The painting depicts Saint Anthony the Abbot, recognizable by the tau-shaped staff, the book, and the pig at his side, placed within a richly detailed landscape typical of Flemish Mannerism. The meticulous rendering of each element – rocks, vegetation, animals, distant buildings – reflects the Flemish painters’ attentive observation of the natural world.

In Flemish painting of this period, nature is not merely a backdrop but a space charged with spirituality. The precise depiction of its elements contributes to a contemplative and almost magical atmosphere, where nature is seen as a visible manifestation of the divine.

Within this vision, the solitary figure of Saint Anthony embodies the harmony between man, faith, and the natural world.

Saint Anthony the Abbot is traditionally regarded as the patron saint of domestic animals, farmers, butchers, and those suffering from shingles (known as “St. Anthony’s fire”).

Dimensions:

33.6 cm with frame

23.3 cm without frame