Saint Sebastian

Art Historical Context

In the late 18th century,oese artist Giovanni David this striking etching of *Saint Sebastian*, a beloved martyr saint often depicted bound to a tree and pierced by arrows as punishment for his Christian faith. Created between 1770 and1790, the work captures the dramatic tension of the saint's suffering, embodying the religious devotion central to Baroque and Rococo-inspired art in Italy. David's etching reflects the period's emphasis on expressive linework and emotional intensity, drawing from Genoa's rich tradition of printmaking influenced by masters like Tiepolo. This is the rare first state of two, meaning it preserves David's original composition before any revisions—a collector's prize for its unaltered authenticity. Etching, an intaglio technique where acid bites into a wax-grounded copper plate to create fine, fluid lines, allowed David to achieve intricate details in the saint's musculature and the arrows' taut strings. Measuring just 8 5/8 × 6 1/8 inches, its intimate scale invites close viewing, highlighting the medium's precision. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Elisha Whittelsey Collection (acquired 1962), this print underscores etching's role in democratizing religious imagery, making grand artistic visions accessible beyond oil paintings. A poignant reminder of faith's endurance, it enchants visitors with its technical mastery and timeless spirituality.

About the Artist

Giovanni David · 1749–1790

Giovanni David (1743–1790) was a Genoese painter and etcher whose brief career, shaped by distinguished patronage and wide-ranging travel, produced a body of work remarkable for its experimental verve. Born in Genoa, he came under the protection of Count Giacomo Durazzo, a cultivated Genoese nobleman and diplomat who became the defining figure of his artistic life. Durazzo sponsored David's traini...