'La Tentation du Christ'

A photograph of a work created by Ary Scheffer in the late 1840s, the prime version of which is now in the collection of the Louvre, Paris (M.I. 285). The image depicts Christ and Satan full-length, standing on a rugged mountaintop. Satan extends his arms downwards offering all the kingdoms of the world, while the Christ raises his right hand pointing to the heavens. The composition is inspired by a scene from the Gospels in which Christ was tempted by Satan for the third time, while fasting in the desert for forty days and nights.

Ary Scheffer (and his studio) continued throughout his life to produce new works of old compositions on demand. His paintings were also widely reproduced as etchings.