St. Anthony Abbot

Jacopo Pontormo painted St. Anthony Abbot during the tumultuous years of the High Renaissance in Florence. At the time, the dominant artistic trends sought to express a renewed sense of humanism. Pontormo, however, seems to be turning away from those ideals. Anthony is shown as an old man, worn and weathered, holding a scroll with an inscription alluding to earthly vanity. His dark and heavy clothing stands in stark contrast to the light colors preferred at the time, such as those used by Raphael or Titian. Anthony’s weary eyes look towards the viewer with an expression of both warning and mourning. He is holding a staff with a T-shaped handle, also known as Saint Anthony’s cross. The color of the cross matches the color of his skin, further connecting the Saint to the realities of human suffering. The painting reminds us to consider the weight of life’s experiences and the search for meaning.