GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Saint Sebastian served as a soldier in the Roman army, but when he was discovered to be a Christian, the Roman emperor ordered him shot by his own archers. He miraculously survived the arrows, however, which led to the arrow becoming his identifying attribute. Eventually he was martyred by being stoned to death. Saint Sebastian's help was often sought against plague, since the sores and swellings of the disease reminded people of the arrow wounds in Saint Sebastian's flesh. He is usually shown wearing a loincloth and tied to a tree or a column, with arrows penetrating his body.
Excerpt from
Carl Wuellner, DMA Label text (1971.81), With Black Lines Only: Engravings and Woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer, 2003.
NOTES
Added as the depicted individual in 1971.81 and 1985.117.M
Information from Getty-
alternate name- Saint Sebastiano
alternte name- Saint Sebastianus
alternate name- Saint Sébastien
naitonality- Christian (preferred), Roman
born- Gaul
died- Rome, 288 CE
See also-
1985.117.M
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sebastian was a Roman army officer under the 3rd-century emperor Diocletian, who viciously persecuted Christians. When it was discovered that Sebastian was a Christian, he was condemned to be killed by a corps of archers. Sebastian miraculously survived and became the patron saint of archers' guilds. Such an organization probably commissioned the DMA sculpture, since the figure wears a chain around his neck that signifies guild membership. The sculptor emphasizes the agony of the martyrdom in Sebastian's grimace and tensed muscles, and traces of late Gothic elegance are still evident in the curving disposition of the body.
1985.117.M- Curatorial remarks
St. Sebastian was a Roman army officer under the 3rd century A.D. Emperor Diocletian, a vicious persecutor of Christians. When it was discovered that Sebastian was a Christian, he was condemned to be killed by a corps of archers. Sebastian miraculously survived and became the patron saint of archers' guilds.
Was a fun fact but is repetitive of Gen Desc:
Along with St. Roch (who survived disease and cared for infirmed Romans during the Medieval period), St. Sebastian was a particularly popular Christian saint in the late 15th century because he was associated with protection against the bubonic plague, which was a serious concern for Europeans at the time. Those suffering from the plague likened their symptoms to the pain of being shot by arrows so they prayed to the patron saint of archery to intercede.
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IMAGE ASSETS
265934681: UMO. [Caption] Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian by II Sodoma, 1525. Source: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei. DVD-ROM, 2002, Wikipedia Commons.
WEB RESOURCES
- Painting Saints~ Read more about the ways saints appear in art, their attributes, and examples of these religious figures in works from the National Gallery of Art, London.
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General Description
Saint Sebastian served as a soldier in the Roman army, but when he was discovered to be a Christian, the Roman emperor ordered him shot by his own archers. He miraculously survived the arrows, however, which led to the arrow becoming his identifying attribute. Eventually he was martyred by being stoned to death. Saint Sebastian's help was often sought against plague, since the sores and swellings of the disease reminded people of the arrow wounds in Saint Sebastian's flesh. He is usually shown wearing a loincloth and tied to a tree or a column, with arrows penetrating his body.
Excerpt from
Carl Wuellner, DMA Label text (1971.81), With Black Lines Only: Engravings and Woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer, 2003.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Painting Saints~ Read more about the ways saints appear in art, their attributes, and examples of these religious figures in works from the National Gallery of Art, London.
Notes
Added as the depicted individual in 1971.81 and 1985.117.M
Information from Getty-
alternate name- Saint Sebastiano
alternte name- Saint Sebastianus
alternate name- Saint Sébastien
naitonality- Christian (preferred), Roman
born- Gaul
died- Rome, 288 CE
See also-
1985.117.M
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Sebastian was a Roman army officer under the 3rd-century emperor Diocletian, who viciously persecuted Christians. When it was discovered that Sebastian was a Christian, he was condemned to be killed by a corps of archers. Sebastian miraculously survived and became the patron saint of archers' guilds. Such an organization probably commissioned the DMA sculpture, since the figure wears a chain around his neck that signifies guild membership. The sculptor emphasizes the agony of the martyrdom in Sebastian's grimace and tensed muscles, and traces of late Gothic elegance are still evident in the curving disposition of the body.
1985.117.M- Curatorial remarks
St. Sebastian was a Roman army officer under the 3rd century A.D. Emperor Diocletian, a vicious persecutor of Christians. When it was discovered that Sebastian was a Christian, he was condemned to be killed by a corps of archers. Sebastian miraculously survived and became the patron saint of archers' guilds.
Was a fun fact but is repetitive of Gen Desc:
Along with St. Roch (who survived disease and cared for infirmed Romans during the Medieval period), St. Sebastian was a particularly popular Christian saint in the late 15th century because he was associated with protection against the bubonic plague, which was a serious concern for Europeans at the time. Those suffering from the plague likened their symptoms to the pain of being shot by arrows so they prayed to the patron saint of archery to intercede.
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