Saint Sebastian – Italian School, Late 16th Century

Monumental and striking, this large-format oil on canvas depicts Saint Sebastian, one of the most emblematic martyrs of the Christian faith, transfigured here in all the nobility of his sacrifice. The artist, from the late 16th-century Italian school, displays a remarkable mastery of chiaroscuro and anatomical modeling to magnify the ideal beauty of the suffering body.

Saint Sebastian is shown tied to a tree trunk, his body half-draped in a white cloth tied at the waist. The light, coming from the left, caresses the saint's pearly skin, emphasizing the muscular tension of his torso and the almost sculptural softness of his face. The contrast between the luminous flesh tones and the dark background, with its almost metaphysical depth, lends the scene a rare dramatic power, already foreshadowing the pre-Caravaggesque sensibility.

Composition: The saint, depicted in half-length, stands out in a slight three-quarter view against a dark background. The tight framing accentuates the emotional intimacy and monumentality of the subject.
Face: A contemplative and resigned expression, gaze turned towards the heavens, mouth slightly open in silent prayer.
Light: Lateral lighting sculpts the volumes, typical of late Mannerism, a prelude to the luminous boldness of Caravaggio.
Drapery: The white linen, with its vigorously brushed folds, creates a powerful contrast with the flesh and balances the composition.


Color palette: Warm and dense tones: rosy ochre, umber, highlights of vermilion and lead white, underscoring the dramatic tension and the purity of the sanctified body. A Roman martyr pierced with arrows on the orders of Diocletian, Saint Sebastian has embodied, since the Renaissance, the paradoxical union of suffering and beauty. A true emblem of faith victorious over the body, he inspired the greatest Italian masters, from Mantegna to Guido Reni. Our work is fully in keeping with this tradition: it reflects the aesthetics of late Mannerism through the elongated grace of the forms and the restrained spirituality of the face, while also foreshadowing the emergence of an emotional realism that would characterize early Caravaggism. The treatment of the body, with its powerful and luminous modeling, evokes Lombard and Roman works of the late 16th century. The stylistic affinity with Giuseppe Cesari, known as the Cavalier d’Arpino (Rome, 1568–1640), or Scipione Pulzone (Gaeta, 1544 – Rome, 1598), is evident in the purity of the face and the refined chiaroscuro. The influence of Correggio and his successors is also perceptible in the controlled sensuality of the flesh tones.

Condition: Antique canvas, unlined, exhibiting uniform craquelure across the entire surface, consistent with its age.

Some old restorations are visible on the reverse, but do not impair readability.
The paint layer is stable, and the surface is clean and legible.

Dimensions
Height: 173 cm Width: 114 cm

Shipping & Presentation

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