Artwork copyright Michael Dal Cerro. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The Temptation of Captain America, 2001

Michael Dal Cerro
American (born 1953)

Location: Saltar's Point Elementary School, Steilacoom

About the Artwork

‘The Temptation of Captain America’ is a richly detailed painting by artist Michael Dal Cerro. It features many fanciful characters from pop culture and advertising, and comments on consumer culture. The composition is based on “The Temptation of St. Anthony,” which the artist notes has been a subject for many different artists through history. He states, “Typically, Saint Anthony is shown being dragged into the air and tormented by fantastic medieval demons. Like Captain America, we are both tempted and tormented by advertising, technology, and popular culture. Our contemporary ‘demons’ here are represented by the Teletubbies, Barney the purple dinosaur, the Starkist Tuna Mermaid, a risqué lady from liquor advertisements, automobiles, and electronic gadgets (technology).”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Steilacoom Historical School District.

About the Artist

New Jersey-based artist Michael Dal Cerro utilizes painting, printmaking and digital media to create elaborately imagined compositions. Interested in the invention of forms and visual language, his works play with conventional perspective and figuration. Dal Cerro lived in Seattle, Washington between 1988 and 1993. Many of his artworks from that period depict imagery of the Pacific Northwest. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University in 1975.