Artwork
St. Sebastian Thrown into the Cloaca Maxima
St. Sebastian Thrown into the Cloaca Maxima is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Ludovico Carracci. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.
About this work
A preparatory drawing for the piece is kept in the Louvre, giving a glimpse of Carracci’s planning process.
St. Sebastian Thrown into the Cloaca Maxima is an oil painting made by Ludovico Carracci in 1612. The work shows the saint in a dramatic moment, painted on canvas.
The Getty Museum in Los Angeles bought the canvas in 1971. A preparatory drawing for the piece is kept in the Louvre, giving a glimpse of Carracci’s planning process. It reflects the Baroque interest in intense storytelling. The painting’s dark tone and bright highlights show Carracci’s skill with light.
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Overview
Ludovico Carracci's 'St. Sebastian Thrown into the Cloaca Maxima' is a 1612 oil painting on canvas, currently housed at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The work captures a pivotal, dramatic moment in the legend of St. Sebastian.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the moment St. Sebastian is cast into the Cloaca Maxima, a Roman sewer, highlighting a lesser-known episode in the saint's martyrdom narrative. This scene emphasizes the saint's endurance and the brutality of his persecution.
Technique & Style
Carracci employs a stark contrast of dark tones and vivid highlights, demonstrating his mastery of chiaroscuro, a hallmark of the Baroque period. This lighting technique intensifies the emotional drama of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in 1612, the painting was acquired by the Getty Museum in 1971. A preparatory drawing, now in the Louvre, provides insight into Carracci's creative process.
Context
The work reflects the Baroque era's penchant for intense, emotionally charged narratives, often drawn from religious subjects. Carracci's approach aligns with the period's emphasis on dynamic storytelling through art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Ludovico (or Lodovico) Carracci ( kə-RAH-chee, UK also kə-RATCH-ee, Italian: ; 21 April 1555 – 13 November 1619) was an Italian early-Baroque painter, etcher, and printmaker from Bologna.
