The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian
1401 to 1500
Medium
bronze//Medium brown patina
Dimensions
overall: 13.12 × 9.2 cm (5 3/16 × 3 5/8 in.) gross weight: 263.6 gr (0.581 lb.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1957.14.300
Art Historical Context
This small bronze plaquette, created in the style of the Renaissance sculptor Moderno between 1401 and 1500, captures the dramatic martyrdom of Saint Sebastian. The saint stands bound to tree or column, his body pierced arrows, a scene drawn from early Christian legend. in bronze with a rich medium-brown patina, the work measures just over five inches tall, typical of the intimate reliefs popular among collectors during the Italian Renaissance. Moderno, active in northern Italy, was renowned for his finely detailed plaquettes that blended classical form with Christian subjects. These portable...