1455
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is a 1455 ink by Master E.S., a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This chaotic scene shows a group of people attacking a man tied to a tree. The man in the center, pierced with arrows, looks upward. Around him, figures with wild hair and weapons swing clubs and bows. In the background, a village with spires sits on a hill, while jagged rocks and twisted trees fill the rest of the space. The artist used sharp lines and heavy shading to create drama. The man’s calm face stands out against the frenzy around him. Try looking up engraving to see how this technique works.
Master E. S. (c. 1420 – c. 1468; previously known as the Master of 1466) is an unidentified German engraver, goldsmith, and printmaker of the late Gothic period. He was the first major German artist of old master prints…
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