Artwork
Saint Sebastian
Saint Sebastian is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Unknown. It dates from 1497 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work portrays a standing figure on a tiled floor, set before a tranquil landscape.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the Christian martyr Saint Sebastian, a subject tied to themes of faith and endurance. His depiction emphasizes the moment of martyrdom, symbolizing both spiritual fortitude and the sacrifice inherent in the faith narrative. The composition aligns with religious art traditions that highlight the saint's steadfastness amid persecution.
Technique & Style
The narrow documentary trail limits any further formal analysis: technique, materials, and stylistic attribution remain undocumented in the cited sources.
Saint Sebastian is classified as a painting and falls within the genre of religious art, depicting the martyrdom of its titular saint. The work was produced in 1493 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Its physical format is markedly elongated, measuring 780.0 in height against a width of 405.0, a vertical proportion consistent with devotional panels of the period.
Beyond these catalogued dimensions and classification, the available records do not specify the medium, support, pigment, or stylistic handling of the piece, and no condition report is provided.
The narrow documentary trail limits any further formal analysis: technique, materials, and stylistic attribution remain undocumented in the cited sources.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint Sebastian is dated to 1493 based on its internal documentation and the museum’s records, which list the work’s inception year as 1493.
The earliest known location for the painting is the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it has been part of the national collection under the inventory number KMS 1748. It was acquired by the museum as part of an unidentified collection, referred to only as the Ubekendt collection, prior to its documented presence in the museum’s holdings.
The painting Saint Sebastian is held by Statens Museum for Kunst and is catalogued under the inventory number KMS1748. It was created in 1493 and has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition. The work was displayed in the exhibition "European Paintings: The Renaissance and Baroque" at the National Gallery of Art in 2022.
Overview
The work portrays a standing figure on a tiled floor, set before a tranquil landscape. A halo crowns his head, and he is dressed in a pink loincloth while holding a matching cloth in his right hand. Several arrows pierce his body, yet his expression remains composed, framed by long, wavy hair.
The background shows a blue sky with scattered clouds and a distant body of water, contributing to a calm atmosphere.
Context
Depictions of Saint Sebastian were common in Western art, especially during periods when his image served as a protective symbol against plague. The tranquil setting and emphasis on the saint’s calm acceptance align with such devotional purposes, situating the work within that broader iconographic tradition.
Artist & collection
