Saint Sebastian Considered

Saturday, August 13, 2011

2) a more common depiction shows the martyr-saint's hands bound together behind him, feet unbound and his body resting against a column or stake or tree--e.g., Rogier van der Weyden (1446) (See: Figure 29), Giovanni Bellini (1464) (See: Figure 30), Francesco Galli (called Francesco Napoletano) (c. 1490) (See: Figure 31), and Giovanni Buonconsiglio (1500) (See: Figure 32) among a number,

29. Rogier van der Weyden (1400-1464), The Last Judgment Polyptych (reverse side) (1446-52), Musée de l'Hôtel Dieu, Beaune.

30. Giovanni Bellini (1430-1516), Polyptych of St. Vincenzo Ferreri (1464). Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venezia.

31. Francesco Galli (called Francesco Napoletano) (mid 1400-1501), Martyrdom of St Sebastian (c. 1490). Museum Boymans-van-Beuningen,Rotterdam.

32. Buonconsiglio, Giovanni (1495-1537), St Sebastian with St Roch and St Lawrence (1500), San Giacomo dall'Orio, Venice.

3) a third variation is seen with the martyr-saint's hands bound together behind him, his feet bound and his body also bound and resting against a column or stake or tree--.e.g., Anonymous Rhone Master (XV^th Century) (See: Figure 33), Anonymous Nuremberg Master (1437) (See: Figure 34), Andrea Mantegna (1459) (See: Figure 5), Antonio Pollaiolo (1475) (See: Figure 35), among others,

33. Master of the Rhone School (XV^th C.), Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation,Houston.

34. Anonymous Nuremberg Master (XV^th C.), St. Sebastian (1437), Albertina Library,Vienna. Woodcut.

35. Antonio Pollaiolo (1433-1498), Martyrdom of St Sebastian (c. 1475). National Gallery,London. In collaboration with brother Piero.

Friday, August 12, 2011

4) a fourth variation finds the martyr-saint's hands bound separately, his feet unbound and his body leaning against or pulling away from a column or stake or tree--e.g., Marco Zoppo (c. 1453) (See: Figure 4), Hans Memling (a. 1470) (See: Figure 36), Master of San Pellegrino (1476) (See: Figure 37), Evangelista di Piandimeleto (b. 1499) (See: Figure 38) and Luca Signorelli (1508) (See: Figure 39) among many,

36. Hans Memling (1433 -1494), Martyrdom of St Sebastian (after 1470). Musée Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels.

37. Anonymous San Pellegrino Master (XV^th C.), Madonna of Carmine with St. Roch and St. Sebastian (1476), Chiesa di San Pellegrino di Ripe, Italy.