Study Head of a Young Man Looking Upwards. St Sebastian 1614 - 1641

Curator: This is Anthony van Dyck’s oil on canvas, "Study Head of a Young Man Looking Upwards. St Sebastian," dating roughly from 1614 to 1641, here at the SMK. Editor: It has such an upward pull. The angle of the head, the hopeful gaze… it’s undeniably evocative even without knowing it’s connected to Saint Sebastian. There is movement in the rough, textured strokes of the composition. Curator: Precisely. That upward gaze immediately signifies devotion and perhaps a reaching beyond the earthly. Sebastian, tied and martyred with arrows, is an important figure in Christian iconography, usually a symbol of resilience. The sketchiness, though, is intriguing. Editor: The almost unfinished quality lends itself to the mood. See how the artist allows the texture of the canvas to become a part of the overall experience? It speaks of process. Look how van Dyck plays with light and shadow to mold the figure. This is painting at its most visually powerful. Curator: He clearly sought to explore the emotional intensity and inner experience of the saint facing martyrdom, which deviates a bit from traditional representations that focused on the physical suffering. Van Dyck also made various paintings of Christ being crowned, so we can maybe see the figure also representing a young Christ looking up at God in the same moment of religious ecstasy and acceptance. Editor: That shadow across the throat and chest is so compelling, there is a softness contrasted against that tension of acceptance. I see the same theme repeated in Caravaggio’s work in Italy, but van Dyck gives the feeling of serenity more expression. Curator: These sketches reveal that Van Dyck also made at least 28 drawings of heads or figures in preparation for this artwork, as well as larger scale history paintings. I believe Van Dyck made subtle shifts towards intimacy by exploring inner emotion rather than traditional religious displays. Editor: Agreed, the expressiveness lies in his understanding of pictorial space and use of light, elevating emotion, with very strong connections in style. I think I am also leaving here with a newfound understanding. Thank you. Curator: And thank you for enriching my insights, too.