On view
Duane Wilder Gallery
Saint Sebastian,
ca. 1500–1510
formerly attributed to Perugino (Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci), 1450–1523; born Città della Pieve, Italy; died Fontignano, Italy
The subject of Saint Sebastian—who, according to legend, was shot with arrows but miraculously survived, only to be beaten to death—gave artists an opportunity to render the nude male form. To model Sebastian’s body, they often looked to ancient sculptures such as the nearby Roman torso.
Sebastian was embraced as a protector against the bubonic plague because contracting the disease was compared to being shot with an arrow. This painting represents the saint both as a divine being in an abstract setting and as a victim with an arrow piercing his body where the plague’s pustules often appeared.
More Context
Special Exhibition
According to legend, Saint Sebastian was martyred by the Romans for his Christian faith. He was first shot with arrows but miraculously survived; after he was healed, he was beaten to death. Arrows were traditionally associated with the bubonic plague, as contracting the disease was compared to being shot with an arrow. Thus, Sebastian was embraced as a protector against the plague and was frequently featured in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European art as a figure of hope. This painting represents the saint both as a divine being in an abstract setting and as a victim with an arrow piercing his body where the plague’s pustules were known to appear. The suffering figure of Sebastian was later incorporated into twentieth-century works responding to the AIDS crisis, including one of David Wojnarowicz’s photomontages from his <em>Sex Series</em>, on view in this gallery.
More About This Object
Information
ca. 1500–1510
Europe, Umbria
formerly attributed to Perugino (Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci), 1450–1523; born Città della Pieve, Italy; died Fontignano, Italy
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- Raffaella Zama, Girolamo Marchesi da Cotignola: pittore: catalogo generale, (Rimini: Luisè, 2007).
- Sarah Arvio, "Master and torso", Society of Fellows of the American Academy in Rome news (Fall, 2009)., p. 12 (illus.)
