17TH C DUTCH OLD MASTER. MARTYRDOM OF SAINT SEBASTIAN

17th Century Dutch Old Master - Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian

Period: 17th century

Origin: Dutch

Signature: Partial signature remains on the post

Condition: Good overall, touch-ups and past restorations consistent with age

Frame: Gold water-gilded

About the Subject

The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is one of the most enduring themes in Western religious art. The execution scene so often portrayed – with the Saint transfixed with arrows – is based on the legend about his life and death during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

This powerful 17th century Dutch interpretation demonstrates the Northern European approach to this classic religious subject, combining dramatic composition with careful attention to detail.