Sebastian was a centurion sentenced to death by the Emperor Diocletian for his Christian faith. He was shot with arrows and left for dead. The arrows did not kill him and he was eventually stoned to death. His story is told in 'The Golden Legend'. In the 17th century this painting was recorded with 'Saint Mark ''(?)' as part of an altarpiece in the church of S. Maria dei Crociferi in Venice.
Key facts
Artist dates
about 1459/60 - about 1517/18
Full title
Saint Sebastian
Date made
about 1500
Medium and support
Oil on wood
Dimensions
103.2 x 40.6 cm
Acquisition credit
Mond Bequest, 1924; entered the Collection in 1938
Inventory number
NG4946
Location in Gallery
Other paintings in the group: Two Panels from the S. Maria dei Crociferi Altarpiece
Painting
Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano
about 1500
