Table of the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian

This panel painting is attributed to the Burgos-born painter Alonso de Sedano, who arrived in Mallorca after a stay in Naples. It was commissioned by the nobleman Salvador Sureda for an altarpiece dedicated to Saint Sebastian, intended for his family chapel in the Cathedral. The panel depicts the saint in the center of the scene, at the moment of his martyrdom, tied to a column. The saint is shown naked except for his loincloth. His body is completely covered in arrows. His face conveys neither pain nor suffering. On either side are two groups of citizens and archers shooting arrows at him. A notable aspect of the work is its spatial conception. A sense of depth is achieved through the placement of all the figures in the foreground and the recreation of a distant landscape background. The landscape combines elements characteristic of the Flemish tradition and Mediterranean painting.