Genre or Common Type

A further development in the portrayal of St. Sebastian is seen in what may be characterized by a physiognomy which is somewhat common in type. The idealized face seen in the XV^th-XVI^th Centuries and standardized by Guido Reni is in the XVII^th Century is transformed into a face that may be characterized as genre--i.e., a handsome almost common, provincial portrayal. We begin to encounter a face which is depicted much in the same way Caravaggio portrayed the comely St. John the Baptist. Hendrick Terbrugghen (1625) (See: Figure 74) presents Sts. Sebastian and Irene with her maid as hardy peasant stock. The same is true of the representation of Matthias Stomer (a. 1640) (See: Figure 95) where the nude martyr-saint is slumped towards St. Irene. Antonio de Bellis (1650) depicts an attractive, young local slumped cross-legged and arms still secured above his head (See: Figure 207). Trophime Bigot (b. 1650) illustrates St. Sebastian, St. Irene and her maid, all genre types standing (See: Figure 208). Pedro Orrente (b. 1644) (See: Figure 209) portrays the martyr-saint as a typical Spaniard, not idealized but realized. In so doing, the martyr-saint is moved from the aloof, spiritual idealization down to the level of the observer. He becomes the boy next door!