The Temptation of Christ

Executed in masterly thick brushstrokes and rich coloration, this late painting by Ricci displays the character of the then highly valued Venetian quadretti - small-size works. It depicts the first episode of the three instances of temptation in which the devil unsuccessfully tried to divert Christ from his Messiah mission (Mt 4, 1-4): “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Jesus replies with the famous statement from the Book of Moses V (Dt 8,3): “Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the moth of the Lord doth man live.”