The Temptation of St. Hilarion

This painting depicts St. Heleron (Hilarion) , a missionary hermit, resisting the temptation of a voluptuous woman.  

'So many were his temptations and so various the snares of demons night and day, that if I wished to relate them, a volume would not suffice.  How often when he lay down did naked women appear to him, how often sumptuous feasts when he was hungry! ' (Jerome, Life of St. Hilarion, 7)

The family first came upon this painting from an auction catalogue from Christies King Street auction of the Donald M. Munson Collection of 4 May, 1995 in London. (Lot 24) Artist listed was 'V. Shtember' signed in cyrillic and dated 1894, oil on canvas, unframed.  843/4 x 60in. (212 x 152.5cm)  Estimate 5,000-7,000 pounds. The Hammer price was $11,326.

Bonham's next represented the painting for sale in an auction of Russian paintings on November 28, 2012 in  London (Lot 16).  Estimated price was $239,941 to $319,921 but did not reach the minimum price of $239,000 and was not sold.

Stember used the same male model to paint just St. Heleron (# 125) and there is also a photograph of Stember with a skull on his desk that is presumed he used in this painting. #3 as well as in #36.