The temptations of Jesus
The scene depicts the temptations of Jesus, in the desert, by the devil depicted in human guise.
The chapel is one of the oldest of the Sacro Monte, dating back to the beginning of the 16th century. As proven by a date engraved outside on the back wall (1501). Initially, there was a door on the back wall, and it contained the scene of Jesus bearing the cross.
Later, in the project by Galeazzo Alessi (1565-1572), the chapel hosted the Temptations of Jesus in the desert. The new statues were located inside the chapel in 1578. At the time, the building housed also the episode of the Climb to Calvary.
But from 1599, Bishop Bascapè had the the scene rearranged and dedicated entirely to the mystery of the Temptations. He added terracotta animals, created by Michele Prestinari. While the painted decoration is by Melchiorre d'Enrico, brother of Tanzio from Varallo.