Saint Sebastian 1620 - 1649

This drawing of Saint Sebastian was made by Hans Friedrich Schorer, most likely in the 1630s, using pen and brown ink, with brown wash, over preliminary indications in black chalk. The whole is laid out on a grid. If you look closely, you’ll notice that the grid has a slightly different relationship to the figure depending on where you look. It seems that Schorer began with the architectural structure, and then fit the figure of Saint Sebastian to it, perhaps using a live model. Notice also the subtle brown wash that Schorer applied to create depth and shadow. This tonal modelling gives the figure a powerful sense of three-dimensionality, despite being realized on a flat surface. The artist’s labor here is evident in every carefully placed line and shadow, from the arching back to the subtle contortions in the face. By appreciating the craft and technique evident in this drawing, we can move beyond the traditional categorization of ‘fine art,’ and consider the broader traditions of skilled making to which Schorer belonged.