His painting is based on a prior work, an engraving by Martin Schongauer ... "The Temptation of St Anthony" ... see here https://www.wikiart.org/en/martin-schongauer/the-temptation-... ...

So he was re-rendering a religious folk story.

Seriously. Both because of the talent but also because wtf Mikey don't you want to draw a knight in shining armor or a cow or something.