Artwork
Saint Sebastian Pierced with Arrows
Saint Sebastian Pierced with Arrows is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Josse Lieferinxe. It dates from 1499 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Created in 1499, this oil painting portrays the martyr Saint Sebastian bound to a tree and riddled with arrows.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1499, this oil painting portrays the martyr Saint Sebastian bound to a tree and riddled with arrows. The composition centers on the saint, nude save for a simple loincloth, standing on a rocky outcrop while a group of archers prepares to fire. The work is part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the religious genre popular in the late fifteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The image illustrates the Christian legend of Saint Sebastian, who was tied to a post and shot with arrows as punishment for his faith. By depicting his calm endurance amid the onslaught, the painting underscores themes of steadfast devotion and the triumph of spiritual conviction over physical torment.
Technique & Style
Employing strong chiaroscuro, the artist models the figure with contrasting light and shadow, giving the saint a three‑dimensional presence against a muted landscape. The warm orange sky and the atmospheric hills in the background reflect influences from early Baroque Italian painting, while the overall handling aligns with the Provençal school’s emphasis on dramatic narrative.
History & Provenance
The work is attributed to Josse Lieferinxe, a South Netherlandish painter active in southern France from the early 1490s to roughly 1508. After remaining in private hands for several centuries, the painting entered the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s holdings, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European paintings collection.
Context
Lieferinxe operated within the artistic milieu of Provence, a region where Northern European techniques met Italian innovations. This synthesis is evident in the painting’s blend of detailed figural rendering and the dynamic, emotionally charged composition characteristic of emerging Baroque sensibilities.
Artist & collection
Artist
Josse Lieferinxe (fl. c. 1493–1503/08) was a South Netherlandish painter, formerly known by the pseudonym the Master of St. Sebastian. Originating in the diocese of Cambrai in Hainaut, then part of the territories ruled…
