Youth with Right Arm Raised in a Shoulder-Length Portrayal (preparatory study for St. Sebastian) 1510 - 1520

Timoteo Viti rendered this drawing, a preparatory study for Saint Sebastian, with chalk. Note the raised arm, a gesture laden with history. Since antiquity, the raised arm has signified diverse concepts: from an oath or invocation to divine powers, as seen in Roman sculptures, to a sign of surrender or supplication. In religious art, this motif often embodies a soul reaching towards the divine, seeking grace or intervention. The image of Saint Sebastian, with arms often raised in agony yet bearing the marks of martyrdom, becomes a powerful symbol of faith amidst suffering. Think of similar gestures across cultures: the raised hands in ancient Egyptian depictions of prayer, or the orans posture in early Christian art. This enduring gesture transcends time, echoing through the ages and reminding us of humanity's constant yearning for connection with something greater than itself. The emotion of the piece may stir feelings of collective memory and empathy in the viewer.