In the third century Anthony sold all his possessions, gave the proceeds to the poor, and went into the desert to lead a life of prayer and contemplation. His example attracted other men to the desert, and eventually they formed the first Christian monastic community. The Life of St. Anthony by St. Athanasius of Alexandria (298-373) spread the saint's influence and inspired the formation of monastic communities throughout the Christian world.
In the middle ages, St. Anthony was the patron of a monastic order known as the Hospitallers of St. Anthony, who made a specialty of treating diseases of the poor in medieval cities. These monks wore a black habit and in many cities supported their charities by raising swine. For this reason, Anthony is often depicted in the same black habit and with a pig as his attribute (example). Bells were used to call swine in at the end of the day, so another attribute is a single bell or a pair (example). Yet another is a walking stick with a tau-shaped top (example).
The Golden Legend's life of Anthony begins with the brutal torments visited upon him by demons, and these are a favorite subject in the art (image). As a symbol of his victory over these demons, some portraits show him with a devil underfoot, as at left.
Narrative images tend to draw on episodes from the Golden Legend's lives of Anthony and St. Paul the Hermit. The former famously undertook a difficult journey (image) to visit the latter and learn from his wisdom (image). While he was visiting, the two were fed by a raven that brought one loaf of bread for each of them (image). On a second visit, St. Anthony found the old hermit dead. Lacking a shovel to bury him, he managed to get him into the ground with the help of some passing lions (image).
Another popular narrative subject is Anthony's encounter with a heap of gold, which he shuns as a device of the devil (image).
The saint is also known as St. Anthony of Egypt or St. Anthony of the Desert.
Feast day: January 17
At left, 15th century sculpture from Germany
Another image:
Grunewald's painting
of the tormenting demonsHagiography:
Also see:
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