St Sebastian Tended by St Irene
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Hendrick Ter Brugghen (1588-1629), St Sebastian Tended by St Irene, 1625, Dutch. Oil on canvas. 149 × 119.4 cm. Courtesy of Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio (http://www.oberlin.edu/allenart/); R.T. Miller Jr Fund.
One of the most popular themes of Renaissance painting was the suffering St Sebastian. Barely clothed, bound to a tree, his contorted limbs and torso pierced with arrows, the subject could hardly have been more dramatic in drawing the attention of the viewer nor more suited to show off the virtuosity of the painter. Often the scene was enhanced by the addition of one or two other figures, usually female. Most often the figure was that of St Irene, sometimes with a companion, tending to the suffering Sebastian and attempting to relieve his pain. The latter composition was the choice of Hendrick Ter Brugghen (1588-1629) when he painted what is considered to be one of …
