Italian School, 17th–18th Centuries – Saint Sebastian Tended By An Angel, Painting Under Glass

An interesting painting under glass depicting Saint Sebastian being tended to by an angel, set in a wooded landscape.

The saint, depicted almost completely naked and leaning against a tree, is shown with his characteristic halo. At his side stands a winged angel, dressed in red, tending to the wounds he sustained during his martyrdom. The scene unfolds within a landscape composed of trees, rocks, and architecture visible in the distance, beneath a vast blue sky.

The composition is characterized by a bright and vibrant color palette, in which the blue tones of the sky, the red of the angel’s robe, and the brown and green hues of the vegetation and landscape stand out. The figures have well-defined contours and light-colored skin tones, which are particularly enhanced by the under-glass painting technique.

The work was created using the under-glass painting technique, in which colors are applied to the back of the glass panel, resulting in a smooth painted surface and a distinctive brilliance of color. The painting is set in a gilded wooden frame that is rectangular in shape and features a molded profile.

Based on its compositional characteristics, technique, and figurative style, the work can be dated to between the late 17th and 18th centuries, subject to a more in-depth historical-artistic and material analysis.

A work of considerable decorative and iconographic interest, particularly suited to a collection of antique paintings, sacred art, or under-glass paintings.

School: Italian
Period: 17th–18th centuries
Subject: Saint Sebastian tended by an angel
Technique: Under-glass painting
Frame: Gilded wood
Dimensions: H 36 × W 30 cm