Lot 04

GOTHIC SCULPTURE OF SAINT SEBASTIAN

The rare late Gothic statue of Saint Sebastian with its original polychrome and incarnation probably comes from the Upper Rhine region. Saint Sebastian was an early Christian martyr who was condemned to death by the Roman Emperor Diocletian for his faith in Christianity. Because he was shot with several arrows but survived, Sebastian was later invoked - beyond his role as patron saint of soldiers - as a protector against the plague. The slender saint is depicted with his right leg slightly extended and his hand gesturing upwards. The anguished expression on the face, the snail-like spirals of rich hair or the drapery around the waist are characterised by a greater effort at plastic modelling. We find traces of arrows in only two places on the body.