Preparations For The Martyrdom Of Saint Sebastian

The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian has been a recurring theme in Western religious painting since the Middle Ages. The end of the 19th century saw a revival of this cruel and voluptuous iconography, among the Symbolist painters, then among the Nabis. The painter chose to represent here the moment when the young man lets himself be tied up without any resistance to receive the archers' arrows. The body of the saint, white, luminous, stands out between his two more tanned executioners. The well-established study, although anonymous, must have been made at the end of the 19th century or at the very beginning of the 20th. The spirit lies between Gustave Moreau and Georges Desvallieres. A deep frame painted in faux wood, focuses the gaze on the subject. Certainly cleaned not very long ago, the painting is in excellent condition. Dimensions of the painting: 22 cm x 16 cm