Saint Sebastian – Hermitage Museum – Saint Petersburgh
The painting depicts one of the recurring themes in the production of Perugino, the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, a Roman soldier condemned to death because of his Christian faith; however, unlike other works with the same subject, where Sebastian is depicted in full figure, in this case the saint is portrayed in the foreground, half-legth. The body, with his white skin shaped thanks to the skilful use of chiaroscuro, stands out on a totally black background, in which his dark hair blends.
In the foreground the beautiful face of Sebastian is facing upwards, with the mouth slightly opened and the look lost in ecstasy; his expression does not betray signs of pain, despite his neck being pierced by an arrow, which bears the signature of Perugino in golden letters: PETRUS PERUSINUS. PINXIT.
The panel dates back to about 1495 and was probably commissioned as an object of domestic devotion; after several passages in collectors, in 1911 it was purchased by the Hermitage of Saint Petersburg. The panel is preserved at the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg.
