Artwork
St Sebastian
St Sebastian is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Cornelius van Poelenburgh. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the Christian martyr Saint Sebastian, a figure traditionally associated with endurance and faith amid persecution.
The painting portrays the Christian martyr Saint Sebastian, a figure traditionally associated with endurance and faith amid persecution. Depicted bound to a post and pierced by arrows, the work emphasizes his sacrificial suffering and spiritual fortitude, central themes within Counter-Reformation religious art. The composition underscores the moment of divine witness rather than physical agony, reflecting theological interpretations of steadfastness in the face of death.
Technique & Style
St Sebastian is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, measuring 28.5 cm in height and 35 cm in width. The work depicts the martyrdom of the saint and was created in 1638 by Cornelius van Poelenburgh, who specialized in religious subjects. It belongs to the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is classified as a religious painting.
History & Provenance
The painting St Sebastian by Cornelius van Poelenburgh is dated 1638, aligning with the artist’s mature period known for Italianate landscapes with religious figures. The work entered the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it remains in the national collection. Its provenance prior to the museum’s acquisition is not specified in the cited sources, leaving the earlier ownership chain undocumented.
Cornelius van Poelenburgh's 1638 oil painting, St Sebastian, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The work, executed on panel and measuring 28.5 cm in height by 35 cm in width, depicts the martyrdom of the saint. While the artwork is confirmed to be part of the museum's permanent holdings, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number.
Additionally, no exhibition history or past display records for this specific piece are documented in the available information.
Overview
Cornelius van Poelenburgh’s 1638 oil painting titled St Sebastian presents a compact, early‑Baroque composition that blends religious narrative with an Italianate landscape. Executed by the Dutch artist while he was working in Rome, the work now belongs to the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Context
In the early seventeenth century, Saint Sebastian was a popular subject for Baroque painters, offering opportunities to explore the drama of martyrdom and the beauty of the male form. Poelenburgh’s treatment aligns with contemporary Italian conventions while retaining the intimate scale characteristic of his Dutch background.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van Poelenburgh or Cornelis van Poelenburch (1594 – 12 August 1667), was a Dutch landscape painter and draughtsman.
