Saint Sebastian
1638
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1638
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Saint Sebastian is a 1638 ink by Simon François, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a man tied to a tree, his body arched backward. His arms are bound above his head, and arrows stick into his chest and sides. The tree behind him has small branches and leaves, and the background looks like a rough, textured wall. The artist used fine lines to show the muscles and pain in the man’s face. The etching technique makes the lines sharp and detailed, almost like a sketch. Next, look up technique: etching to see how artists like this made prints.
