Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian – Church of Santa Maria Assunta – Cerqueto (Perugia)

This detached fresco, whose high quality can be appreciated despite its fragmentary state, is the only surviving fragment of the decoration of the old church demolished in about 1779.

The painting was originally placed in the chapel dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena, and the original decoration probably depicted also an image of Saint Magdalend, dominated by the Trinity surrounded by six angels. The chapel was founded in 1478 as an offering for the liberation from the plague, against which Saint Sebastian was one of the protectors, since he miraculously survived his martyrdom, even though he was shot with arrows: according to popular traditions, the plague was spread through the infected arrows. Next to the saint it is possible to see Saint Rocco, another character with a strong thaumaturgic power, of which only one leg, showing the bleeding and purulent sores. The third saint on the right is identified with Saint Peter, since it is possible to see the apostolic pallium and the tunic.

Just below Saint Sebastian, a long inscription bears the painter’s signature, the date of realization of the fresco and the reasons why it was made; the certain authorship of the painting allows to identify one of Perugino early works.

The painting is in the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Cerqueto.