308 - 17th-Century Italian School - Saint Sebastian the Martyr

17th-Century Italian School - Saint Sebastian the Martyr Sculpture carved from and polished in alabaster. Measures 33 cm in height. Depiction of Saint Sebastian, one of the most venerated martyrs in Christian tradition, portrayed as a young man with stylized anatomy, semi-nude and tied to a tree trunk during his martyrdom. The figure’s head is raised and turned to the side, with an expression of resignation and spiritual contemplation, while his arms are positioned behind him and a loincloth, rendered with soft folds, partially covers his hips. The delicate rendering of the torso, the anatomical definition of the abdomen, and the modeling of the hair are noteworthy, as is the polished surface of the alabaster, which lends luminosity and softness to the forms. The composition reflects a sculptural tradition rooted in the Renaissance that continued during the Baroque period, particularly in Italian and Central European workshops. Its formal conception shows affinities with the models of Saint Sebastian developed by sculptors such as Alessandro Vittoria (1525–1608) and with the classicist tradition represented by François Duquesnoy (1597–1643)—purely stylistic references that do not imply direct attribution. The sculpture rests on a stepped architectural plinth with a partially worn inscription on the front, the legibility of which is not sufficiently clear in the image. It exhibits breaks, material losses, and surface wear, particularly visible on one of the legs, the supporting torso, and some elements of the composition, in addition to alterations to the base. Lot stored in an international warehouse (within the EU). Intra-EU shipping: no import duties apply within the EU. An export permit from the country of origin may be required.