John Bowes earliest known acquisition of a painting was bought in 1830 for £20 whilst on a tour of the continent. It was then attributed to Teniers the Elder but is now catalogued as by Cornelis Saftleven.

Illustrating St Anthony’s triumph over temptation, St Anthony is not only tempted by the pleasures of the flesh, he is also terrorised by demons with an image of hell seen in the background. Hieronymus Bosch’s spectacular triptych of around 1500 (now in the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon) describing the ordeals of St Anthony may have influenced Saftleven’s work.

A similar painting (39,5 x 50,5) can be seen At Art Dealer Johnny van Haeften Ltd. in London.