Artwork
Die Heiligen Sebastian und Fabian
Die Heiligen Sebastian und Fabian is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Master of the Darmstadt Passion. It dates from 1460 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1460, this panel painting is attributed to the anonymous figure known as the Master of the Darmstadt Passion. It is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. The work presents two standing saints, each bearing a spear and a bundle of arrows, set against a muted yellow wall adorned with a simple floral motif.
Subject & Meaning
The figures represent Saint Sebastian and Saint Fabian, both early Christian martyrs traditionally associated with arrows. Their halos identify them as holy, while the weapons they hold allude to the manner of their martyrdoms, emphasizing themes of steadfast faith and suffering.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera on panel, the painting displays the restrained color palette typical of mid‑15th‑century Germanic art. The saints’ garments, green and red for the left figure, brown and red for the right, are rendered with modest modeling, and the background’s flat, yellowish wall with a faint floral pattern provides a subtle spatial cue without competing with the central icons.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Darmstadt Passion
The Master of the Darmstadt Passion was an anonymous German painter active in the fifteenth century, with his birth placed around 1450.
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Darmstadt Altarpiece: Constantine and His Mother Helena Venerating the True Cross
Darmstadt Altarpiece: Virgin and Child Enthroned
The veneration and dedication of the Holy Cross to the church by Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena
Darmstadt Altarpiece: The Throne of Grace
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Saint Florian
Franco van Langhel and His Sons with Saint John the Evangelist (outer face); Pieter van Os with Saint Peter (inner face)
Saint Vincent Panels, fourth panel
Saint Matthew and Saint Sebastian