Saint Sebastian is one of the most frequently depicted religious/mythological subjects in classical painting - really makes you wonder, doesn't it? In fact, arrow-riddled, alluringly nekkid Sebastians are so common, that they all start to run together after a while. But I rather like this one. Not actually terribly attractive, he looks like a real person, someone who might might make the supreme sacrifice for his beliefs. The detail of his scattered Centurion's armor and clothing is great, and I love the bleak landscape, especially the toxic sky and the sunset/sunrise's creeping acid light.
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Alcide-Joseph Lorentz (1813-1891?), French painter and lithographer. He exhibited at the Salon from 1841 to 1850 as a history painter, but is perhaps better remembered as a cartoonist for Parisian periodicals. (Sadly, I was only able to find this tiny bit of information on the painter. And only from one source.)
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