Artwork
The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian
The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Matthias Stom. It dates from 1629 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1629, this oil on canvas portrays the Christian martyr Saint Sebastian at the moment of his execution.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As the main subject, the work illustrates the moment of Sebastian's suffering, consistent with the artist Matthias Stom's focus on religious art.
The painting depicts the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, a religious narrative centered on the saint's execution. As the main subject, the work illustrates the moment of Sebastian's suffering, consistent with the artist Matthias Stom's focus on religious art. The iconography is defined by the portrayal of Sebastian himself, capturing the dramatic intensity of his martyrdom.
Created in 1629, the piece serves as a visual representation of this specific hagiographic event, emphasizing the solemnity and physical reality of the saint's death.
Technique & Style
Matthias Stom painted this work in 1629 using oil paint on canvas, as documented in the source. The painting measures 128 cm in height by 113 cm in width and depicts the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. It is classified as a religious work within the broader category of religious art.
The piece is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek, where it has been catalogued with precise dimensions and material specifications.
Formal stylistic analysis reveals a naturalistic rendering of the saint's suffering, characteristic of Stom's Baroque approach, though the source does not elaborate further on compositional or iconographic details.
History & Provenance
Matthias Stom painted The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian in 1629 as an oil on canvas work, depicting the saint's martyrdom in a religious composition. The painting is part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed in the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display.
The work entered the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, which maintains it within its permanent holdings of 17th-century religious art. Its creation history is documented through its commission, dating to 1629, and technical specifications recorded in museum archives.
The painting is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Its inventory number is WAF 113, with dimensions of 128 cm in height and 113 cm in width.
The work has been included in the museum’s permanent display and featured in thematic exhibitions such as Caravaggisti in the North (2016–2017) at the Alte Pinakothek.
Overview
Created in 1629, this oil on canvas portrays the Christian martyr Saint Sebastian at the moment of his execution. The figure is bound to a tree, his torso exposed, while an arrow pierces his side. A dark surrounding is punctuated by a narrow beam of light that illuminates the saint’s calm expression, emphasizing the tension between suffering and serenity.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer (c. 1600 – after 1652) was a Dutch, or possibly Flemish, painter who is only known for the works he produced during his residence in Italy. He was influenced by the work of non-Italian…
