Saint Sebastian lying

A 3rd century Roman martyr, Saint Sebastian, is shown here lying on the ground after his martyrdom: he was shot through with arrows by the Roman soldiers. The artist has performed a difficult exercise in the foreshortened perspective of the stretched out body, whereas usually, Saint Sebastian is shown standing. The light and shade throw dramatic lighting on the face of the saint, bearing witness to the influence of Caravaggio on the artist and, at the same time, his attention to detail of the anatomy of the Saint likens him to Michelangelo.