Saint Sebastian, Andrea del Sarto (Florence, 1486 - Florence, 1531) Workshop

Saint Sebastian, Andrea del Sarto (Florence, 1486 - Florence, 1531) Workshop Oil on oval panel 69 x 90 cm - In frame 105 x 84 cm. FULL DETAILS OF THE PAINTING (CLICK HERE) The Saint Sebastian illustrated in this splendid painting reprises, with great detail, the famous composition created in 1529 by the Florentine master Andrea del Sarto, originally conceived as an altarpiece for the Compagnia di San Sebastiano in Florence. The work is now known as 'Medici Saint Sebastian' due to its historic belonging to the Medici family collection. Unlike traditional fifteenth-century representations, in which the Saint is shown tied to a post and pierced by numerous arrows, here his body is healthy and uninjured, focusing on a purely spiritual dimension. The Saint's attributes are reduced to the essential: two arrows in his right hand, held gracefully, and the palm of martyrdom in his left, dividing the image space and drawing attention to the palpable ascetic tension of his face, with eyes turned upwards in divine contemplation. The Saint is idealized in youthful beauty, from which his ecstatic state emanates, conveying to the viewer an example of absolute devotion and faith: his representation transcends physical pain and elevates him to a figure of spiritual triumph. The bare, smooth torso highlights a tense, sculpted, and academic musculature, emerging from the darkness below, illuminated by raking light, typical of the anatomical studies of the High Renaissance and the Mannerist influences reminiscent of Michelangelo. The light strikes the right shoulder and neck, creating a soft contrast with the shadow enveloping the left side of the body and the background, a stylistic choice derived from Leonardo's 'sfumato' which Andrea del Sarto mastered. The fixed gaze towards the sky, emphasized by flowing curly hair, and his lean yet harmonious, almost ephebic physique, with a posture that is both proud and relaxed, evoke the impression of Raphael's David. This is a work of strong devotional impact, whose composition is known thanks to various high-quality period replicas and derivations, such as the one presented here. The documented ones are as follows: (1) Andrea del Sarto (follower) - Saint Sebastian - Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (2) Andrea Del Sarto (manner) - Saint Sebastian - Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence (3) Andrea del Sarto (workshop) - Saint Sebastian Christie's Auction London, April 6, 1984, no. 2 (4) Andrea del Sarto (circle) - Saint Sebastian - Oil on panel, 93.5 × 61 cm, Christie's Auction Paris, June 26, 2002, no. 29 The evident quality of our painting suggests its attribution to a talented Tuscan painter who was undoubtedly active in the 16th century, thus a contemporary of Andrea del Sarto: we are not dealing with a later derivation but with a work executed during the Master's own time, presumably by an artist gravitating around his prestigious workshop. Although it is not easy to identify the hand of a specific author within the master's prolific school, the proposed painting holds a significant place due to its noble Florentine craftsmanship, which is evident in the certainty of the drawing, the mastery of the anatomical structure, the plasticity of the figure, and the delicate vagueness of the Saint's expression, all of which make it a very interesting work. The attention to the realistic depiction of physiognomy and emotions, the skillful use of light and shadow, and the deep knowledge and reinterpretation of the models of Italian Renaissance painting are the characteristics we find in our beautiful exemplar. (1) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Andrea_del_Sarto_(da)_-_San_Sebastiano_che_tiene_due_frecce_... (2) https://catalogo.beniculturali.it/detail/HistoricOrArtisticProperty/0900071707 (3) https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/39616/ (4) https://catalogo.fondazionezeri.unibo.it/scheda/opera/112095/ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The painting comes with a pleasant gilded frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. Should you wish to see this or other works in person, we would be delighted to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you! Contact us for any information or to arrange a visit, we will be happy to respond. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/