Its sort of mind boggling to read about the lives of Saints. Especially ones that have still a huge influence of people thousands of years after they lived. St. Anthony was born wealthy and heard a priest quote one line in the Bible. “Give everything you have away, and follow me” So he did. He gave all his possessions away to the poor and went to live in a cave in the desert for 43 years. You would think that was a little bit overboard but he was led to do that . Others joined him and he started the first monastery. What do you do in a monastery ?? pray. He had some pretty scary things occur while in the cave. Demonic activity manifested in the cave but he remained resolute. He thought he must be doing something right if demons were attacking him. The monastery he started is still there today. It has two churches full of art that was painting on the walls. This is shy of two thousand years ago and its still there. You can even go to the actual cave he lived in.
I painted him simply holding the Christ child in his arms. I don’t think he’d mind the sequins as Im sure he experienced inner light in the cave and reflected off him. t