3164
Palma, Jacopo called Palma Giovane resp. Jacopo Negretti after
Germany or Flemish early 17th C.
The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.
Oil on panel. Unsigned.
H 47, W 33 cm (support). Gold frame with arch segment.
This painting shows a northern Alpine copy of the Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, which goes back to a model by Palma Giovane (1550 - 1628) that has probably not survived. Prints and other variations in oil supply the evidence, one of which is in the Milwaukee Art Museum with the inventory number M1991.40.
The image probably made its way across the Alps in the form of a copper engraving. Soon after the creation of Palma's popular pictorial invention, it was reproduced by Aegidius Sadeler the younger (1568 - 1629) and Thomas de Leu (around 1555 - 1612) as copperplate engravings, once laterally correct and the other reversed thus achieving great fame throughout Europe. These resulted in variations of the composition in oil by various non-Italian artists, including an oil painting in the Corsini Collection in Rome (inventory number 248).
Possessing such a copper engraving by de Leu as a template, the Flemish or German painter of this image created his Italian-inspired copy of the subject with strong mannerist traits in the finest form of painting. It is an excellent example of European cultural exchange in the early 17th century.
Provenance: private collection Markgräflerland.

Condition report