Leseprobe

108 Nicolas Regnier Maubeuge c. 1588–1667 Venice Saint Sebastian before 1625 Oil on canvas; 134×98 cm Purchased from the Ducal Gallery, Modena, in 1746 Gal. no. 409 According to Jacobus da Varagine’s Legenda aurea , Saint Sebastian served as an officer under emperors Diocletian and Maxilimilian, and was martyred for his refusal to disavow his Christian faith. Regnier depicts him bound to a tree and wounded by arrows. The youthful figure of the saint, who is dressed in nothing but a loincloth, stands out starkly against the dark background. Though seated, his body is twisting in a dynamic pose reminiscent of a figura serpentinata , with the inclina- tion of the head and his upward gaze signalling the struggle for ascension. This is a symbolic reference to the redemption of the saint and his connection with God. Through the composition, restrained palette, and use of light, Regnier’s depiction of the muscular body of the young man exudes an aesthetic and sensuous allure. This idealized depiction of the tormented martyr is supposed to inspire the viewer to follow the example of his unwavering faith. Regnier was one of the most impor- tant followers of Caravaggio, and this painting was indeed at one point attributed to him. Régnier received his training in Antwerp by the Flemish painter Abraham Janssens. He went to Rome and, through Bartolomeo Manfredi, adopted the style of Caravaggio, one of whose most important followers he is. Indeed once this painting was attributed to the Milanese master, active in Rome.  |  iyw