Chrétien de Troyes wrote ‘Perceval ou le Conte du Graal [Perceval and the Story of the Grail]’ in 1181-91AD, but the story of his quest for the Holy Grail was left unfinished. In 1485, Sir Thomas Malory’s book ‘Le Morte d’Arthur [The Death of Arthur]’ was first published, combining many stories about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, of which Perceval was one. This oil painting is an illustration from a later edition of Malory’s famous book. It depicts Perceval being tempted by a demon in the guise of a beautiful woman.
