Italian school; XVIII century.

Italian school; XVIII century.
"Saint Sebastian".
Terracotta.
Measurements: 55 x 40 x 26 cm.
Technically the work is based on an anatomical canon of classical character, with naturalistic dimensions that tend to a dynamism and expressiveness typical of the eighteenth century. This feature can be seen in the posture of the protagonist with one of the legs forward and the torso forward while the arms are behind, as well as in the treatment of the fabric that covers his waist, where the bulky folds create a play of light and shadow that favor the grandeur of the volume. Aesthetically, the work is inspired by classical statuary, specifically Roman, which in turn was in some ways based on Greek, despite other stylistic influences and its own idiosyncrasies. In this case it should be noted that the piece corresponds to a historical period, in which antiquity is used as an example of virtuous society, rescuing and adapting the models established by the aforementioned cultures. In it, both the tradition of classical statuary and the expressive and theatrical taste of baroque converge.
Born in Gaul and raised in Milan, Sebastian was a centurion of the first cohort in the time of Emperor Diocletian (late third century - early fourth century). Denounced because he exhorted his friends Mark and Marcellinus to remain firm in their faith, by order of the emperor he was tied to a post in the center of the field of Mars, and served as a live target for the archers who assaulted him. But he did not die for it. The widow Irene, who wanted to raise his body for burial, noticed that he was still breathing, bandaged his wounds and saved his life. After his cure he reappeared before Diocletian to reproach him for his cruelty to the Christians. He was then scourged, beaten to death in the circus and his corpse was thrown into the Maximian sewer. Shortly afterwards, St. Sebastian appeared to St. Lucila in her sleep to reveal to her the location of his remains, and asked her to bury him in the catacombs.