Italian, Lombardy, late 15th / early 16th century

The figure is in overall good condition, the polychromy and gilding have been refreshed and there is some wear to the surface consistent with age. The front section of the right foot has been replaced. The thumb of the right hand has been restored. The head has been carved in an original separate section, there is a horizontal joint visible at the back of the hair. The torso with arrowholes. There is some worming, especially in the hair. There is some surface dirt, especially to the base. There are some losses to the back tree plate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present impressive life-size St Sebastian belongs to a group of figures of the saint originating from the Lombard region around the great renaissance city of Mantua. It can be compared to a fragmentary terracotta figure of the saint in the Museo Civico "A. Parazzi", Viadana. The terracotta figure exhibits many of the details found in the present carved wood version, such as the strong torso, the hands tied behind the back and the head turned upward in heavenly supplication.

Placed in churches for popular devotion such figures of St Sebastian were balanced between references to the idealised nudes of classical times and a vivid naturalism heightened in the present case with bright polychromy. The original inspiration for the figures can be found in the paintings of the subject by Andrea Mantegna, who was based at the Gonzaga court in Mantua. His St Sebastian, painted c. 1480 and now in the Louvre Museum, Paris, shows a comparable pose to the present figure, with his hands tied behind his back, right leg stepping forward and raised head. St Sebastian was one of the very few religious subjects which provided artists with the opportunity of presenting the idealised male nude. He was thus the subject of numerous re-workings of the antique nudes which fascinated the artists of the age. The martyr-saint was also a popular subject with worshippers, as he presented a model of stoicism in suffering, but also a deep sense of pathos.

RELATED LITERATURE
V. Scarbi, La scultura al tempo di Andrea Mantegna (Milan, 2006) pp. 136-7