Antonio and Piero del Pollaiuolo, 'The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian', completed 1475. London, The National Gallery.

Saints: Saint Sebastian

Saint Sebastian is represented in many paintings. He was an early Christian martyr who became popular in the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Saint Sebastian served as a soldier in the Roman army, but he was discovered to be a Christian and so was sentenced to death by the emperor Diocletian. He was to be shot by his own archers. He survived the arrows, which miraculously failed to pierce any vital organ, and the arrow became his identifying attribute. Eventually he was stoned to death, and his body was thrown into a sewer.

Sebastian's help was sought against plague, the boils and swellings of which reminded people of the arrow wounds in Saint Sebastian's flesh. He is often shown virtually naked and tied to a tree or a column, with arrows penetrating his body.

See Also

• Matteo di Giovanni, 'Saint Sebastian'
• Luca Signorelli, 'The Virgin and Child with Saints'
• Gerrit van Honthorst, 'Saint Sebastian'

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