Saint Sebastian (Ribera, Berlin)

Saint Sebastian (Ribera, Berlin) refers to one of several paintings of Saint Sebastian by the Spanish painter Jusepe de Ribera. This specific version is housed in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin. The painting depicts Saint Sebastian tied to a tree, pierced with arrows, undergoing his martyrdom. Ribera's characteristic tenebrism, a dramatic use of light and dark, is evident in the work, highlighting the saint's suffering and the brutal realism of the scene. The composition often focuses on the saint's idealized physique contrasted with the grim reality of his torture. Other versions of Saint Sebastian by Ribera exist in various museums and collections.