The Torment of Saint Anthony (c. 1487–1488) by Michelangelo Buonarroti

The Torment of Saint Anthony (c. 1487–1488) — Michelangelo Buonarroti

A vision of struggle in mid-air. In this early masterwork, the young Michelangelo hurls Saint Anthony through a storm of clawed, winged demons—rock ledges and sky tilting around him—rendered with chiselled drawing and fierce, jewel-toned colour. Piety meets phantasy, already shaped by a sculptor’s eye.

Why it captivates

• Early Michelangelo — astonishing maturity from a teenage prodigy.

• Sculptural draftsmanship — forms modelled as if carved from stone.

• Vivid imagination — hybrid demons, textures, and armour-like skin.

• Dynamic composition — a swirling aerial battle around a steadfast saint.

• Renaissance lineage — after Schongauer’s famed engraving, reimagined in paint.

• Statement artwork — dramatic, conversation-starting centrepiece.

What you’ll see

Saint Anthony lifted skyward by a ring of grotesque tormentors; craggy outcrops and tilting horizon heighten the vertigo. Up close: tight hatch-like brushwork, scaled textures, and gleaming highlights. From a step back: a powerful pinwheel of motion locking around an unwavering figure.

A richer historical frame

Painted c. 1487–1488 in Florence, this panel adapts Martin Schongauer’s print into a fully realised colour drama—one of the earliest known paintings by Michelangelo. Its anatomical conviction, stony modelling, and restless energy prefigure his monumental career in marble and fresco.

Choose your finish

🌟 Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)
Archival-grade, smooth matte stock ideal for framing under glass. Crisp linework, minimal glare.

💎 Laminated (True Encapsulation)
Sealed in 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate, edge-to-edge. Durable, wipe-clean—perfect for busy spaces.

🪵 Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)
Lacquered natural timber rails with fitted hanging cord; no frame required.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

🏆 Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)
Museum-quality texture with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for rich tone and fine detail.

🪵 Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)
As above, supplied with lacquered natural timber rails and hanging cord.
Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed delivery.

Size (W × H)

615 × 841 mm (approx. 24.21 × 33.11 in)

• Orientation: Portrait

• Aspect ratio: ~0.731 : 1

• Nearest standard frame: 70 × 100 cm (portrait) with mat (A1 is too narrow)

• Framing tips:

  • Classic look: use a 70 × 100 cm frame with a mat window ~611 × 837 mm for a tidy 2–3 mm overlap.

  • Contemporary look: float-mount in a larger frame for a clean gallery reveal.

Custom sizing: Available on request (alternative aspect ratios or added white border).

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Renaissance art enthusiasts & scholars

• Collectors seeking rare early Michelangelo subjects

• Designers building dramatic, heritage-rich interiors

• Educators & libraries illustrating print-to-paint transformations

• Gift-givers marking milestones with a masterpiece

Our Commitment

Every print is produced locally in Australia on premium substrates with careful colour management, then checked and packed by hand so it arrives ready to impress. From studio to wall, we stand behind the craftsmanship and historical integrity of your piece.

Summon Renaissance drama to your space—order your fine-art print of The Torment of Saint Anthony today.