ÉCOLE NORD-ITALIENNE VERS 1700 Saint Sébastien
ÉCOLE NORD-ITALIENNE VERS 1700
Saint Sébastien
huile sur toile
96 x 70,5 cm (38 x 27 ½ in.)
Provenance
Vente anonyme, Sotheby’s, Monaco, 20 juin 1987, lot 521 (comme école romaine du XVIIe siècle).
René Marsal (1922-2013), Paris, à partir de juillet 1988 (selon une étiquette au revers) ; sa vente après décès, Thierry de Maigret, hôtel Drouot, Paris, 22 novembre 2013, lot 200 (comme école italienne du XVIIe siècle, entourage de Michele Desubleo).
Collection particulière, Paris.
Literature
NORTH-ITALIAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1700, SAINT SEBASTIAN, OIL ON CANVAS
An immensely powerful image, Saint Sebastian shot through with arrows is one of the most popular subjects in the canon of Western art. Sebastian himself was a 3rd century martyr, killed during Diocletian’s (242⁄245 – 311⁄312) persecution of the Christians. First tied to a tree and shot with arrows, this did not kill him. He was rescued by Saint Irene of Rome, who treated his wounds. After this miraculous recovery, he went to the emperor to warn him of his sins, and as a result was clubbed to death.
The present painting shows the influence of certain artists of the Emilian school; it is likely that our painter was acquainted with the works of Guido Reni (1575-1642), who painted numerous versions of the saint in his pursuit of the ideal of male beauty.
ÉCOLE NORD-ITALIENNE VERS 1700
Saint Sébastien
huile sur toile
96 x 70,5 cm (38 x 27 ½ in.)
Provenance
Vente anonyme, Sotheby’s, Monaco, 20 juin 1987, lot 521 (comme école romaine du XVIIe siècle).
René Marsal (1922-2013), Paris, à partir de juillet 1988 (selon une étiquette au revers) ; sa vente après décès, Thierry de Maigret, hôtel Drouot, Paris, 22 novembre 2013, lot 200 (comme école italienne du XVIIe siècle, entourage de Michele Desubleo).
Collection particulière, Paris.
Literature
NORTH-ITALIAN SCHOOL, CIRCA 1700, SAINT SEBASTIAN, OIL ON CANVAS
An immensely powerful image, Saint Sebastian shot through with arrows is one of the most popular subjects in the canon of Western art. Sebastian himself was a 3rd century martyr, killed during Diocletian’s (242⁄245 – 311⁄312) persecution of the Christians. First tied to a tree and shot with arrows, this did not kill him. He was rescued by Saint Irene of Rome, who treated his wounds. After this miraculous recovery, he went to the emperor to warn him of his sins, and as a result was clubbed to death.
The present painting shows the influence of certain artists of the Emilian school; it is likely that our painter was acquainted with the works of Guido Reni (1575-1642), who painted numerous versions of the saint in his pursuit of the ideal of male beauty.
