The artwork titled “Sebastian” is a tempera painting created by the artist Sandro Botticelli around the year 1473. This piece exemplifies the Early Renaissance art movement and falls under the genre of religious painting. It measures 195 by 75 centimeters and is currently housed in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, specifically in the Gemäldegalerie, located in Berlin, Germany.
The artwork depicts Saint Sebastian, a Christian martyr, in the traditional manner of his depiction, bound to a post and pierced with arrows. The figure of Saint Sebastian is centered, with an emphasis on the elongated form of his body and the expression of serene suffering on his face. His body is shown with a graceful contrapposto pose, exuding both tension and relaxation. The background illustrates a serene landscape with subtle details, contributing to the painting’s overall ethereal atmosphere. Botticelli’s mastery in handling tempera is evident in the fine details and the delicate rendering of textures, highlighting the physicality and spirituality of the martyred saint.
