Provenance:

Estate of Dr. George S. Heyer, Jr. (1930-2015).

Christie's, New York, sale of April 19, 2018, Lot 135.

Lot Note:

At left is St. Paul the Hermit, traditionally identified as the first Christian hermit, who, according to legend, withdrew into the Egyptian desert during the persecutions of the emperor Decius. He is said to have lived in solitude for decades, sustained by a raven that miraculously brought him half a loaf of bread each day. At right is St. Anthony Abbot, one of the foundational figures of Egyptian monasticism, who likewise renounced worldly possessions and retired to the desert, where he devoted himself to ascetic practice and prayer. His life, recorded by St. Athanasius, recounts his numerous spiritual trials and encounters with demonic forces. Together, the two saints came to embody the ideals of eremitic devotion and were frequently represented in European art as exemplars of penitence, solitude, and spiritual endurance.

This work was formerly in the collection of Dr. George S. Heyer, Jr., whose wide-ranging holdings reflected a sustained interest in European painting and works of art. It was subsequently offered at Christie’s as part of the sale of works from the collection of Dr. Heyer, whose holdings were formed over several decades through extensive study and engagement with leading dealers and scholars.

Framed: 12 3/4 x 14 x 3/4 in.

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