Artwork
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hans Baldung Grien. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian is a 1514 woodcut by Hans Baldung Grien, a German artist known for his work in multiple mediums.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, a common subject in Christian art, although it actually shows two men tied to a tree, one shot with arrows and the other looking upward.
Technique & Style
Baldung Grien's use of sharp lines conveys the pain in the men's faces and the texture of the tree bark, a characteristic technique of woodcuts from this period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1514 by Hans Baldung Grien, a student of Albrecht Dürer, this woodcut reflects the artist's association with the German Renaissance and Mannerism.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hans Baldung (1484 or 1485 – September 1545), called Hans Baldung Grien, (being an early nickname, because of his predilection for the colour green), was a painter, printer, engraver, draftsman, and stained glass…
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