Saint Sebastian c. 1500s

Severo da Ravenna made this bronze Saint Sebastian sometime in the late 15th or early 16th century. Sebastian was a popular subject for Renaissance artists, embodying both classical ideals of beauty and Christian martyrdom. This sculpture presents a complex interplay of cultural references. On the one hand, it draws from classical antiquity with its idealized nude figure and the contrapposto pose, but it also highlights the Christian narrative of suffering and salvation. Made in Italy, the sculpture reflects the cultural climate of the time, where humanist ideals were reviving interest in classical art and philosophy. Religious institutions such as the church exerted a strong influence on artistic production, commissioning works that reinforced religious doctrine and moral values. By examining archival documents, religious texts, and artistic treatises from the period, we can gain insights into the complex web of meanings embedded in this sculpture and the socio-political context of its creation.