Wednesday, January 20, 2016

European paintings of the Plague Saint, 17th century

El Greco
St Sebastian
ca. 1610-14
Prado

By the 17th century St. Sebastian had firmly established himself as Europe's favorite saint in time of plague. Science was being born and capitalism was taking root, but prayer was still the mainstream method relied on for protection during recurring epidemics that might kill half the population of a city. For purposes of plague relief, St. Sebastian became the immediate object of all that urgent praying. The 17th century was a time when people could be sentenced to life as galley slaves. Even to travel by sea with the privileges of a passenger included the very real risk of being kidnapped by pirates. Plague remained a repeated uncontrollable disaster. With these extremes in the background, baroque images of St. Sebastian begin to appear less contrived, less extravagant.

Joachim Wtewael
St Sebastian
early 17th century
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Gerrit Honthorst
St. Sebastian
mid-17th century
National Gallery, London

Jusepe de Ribera
St Sebastian
1636
Prado

Jusepe de Ribera
St Sebastian
1651
Museo di San Martino, Naples

Jusepe Leonardo
St Sebastian
1637
Prado

Juan Carreño de Miranda
St Sebastian
ca. 1655-65
Rijksmuseum

Lodovico Carracci
St Sebastian
early 17th century
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Tanzio da Varallo
St Sebastian
1620s
National Gallery of Art (U.S.)

Juan Carreño de Miranda
St Sebastian
1656
Prado

Italian Painter
St Sebastian
17th century
Prado

Guido Reni
St Sebastian
17th century
Prado

Luca Giordano
St Sebastian with St Irene
ca. 1665
Philadelphia Museum of Art

Bernardo Strozzi
St Sebastian with St Irene
ca. 1631-36
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston