1620
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is a 1620 ink by Aegidius Sadeler II, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a muscular man tied to a tree, arrows stuck in his chest. Around him, small winged figures—some crying, others holding tools—crowd close. The scene is dark, with deep shadows and dramatic lines. The man’s suffering looks intense, but the tiny figures add a mix of sorrow and action. This is a religious story about a saint’s painful death. Next, look up engraving to see how artists carve detailed images into metal.
Aegidius Sadeler or Aegidius Sadeler II (1570–1629) was a Flemish engraver who was principally active at the Prague court of Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor and his successors.
See the richer artist page
