Raphael
Saint Sebastian
c. 1501-1502
Painted around 1501–1502 by the young Raphael Sanzio (1483–1520), barely nineteen years old and still working in Umbria, 'Saint Sebastian' is an unusual half-length treatment of the martyr: rather than being pierced with arrows, the elegant young saint holds a single long arrow as an attribute and gazes calmly at the viewer. The delicate skin, soft hair, and restrained composition show the direct imprint of his master Perugino just before Raphael's decisive move to Florence. Held by the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, it is one of the earliest surviving masterpieces by the artist.
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Image source: Wikimedia Commons