01 Work, Interpretation of the bible, Rutilio Manetti and Domenico Manetti's Saint Sebastian and the Pious Women, with Footnotes #199

Rutilio Manetti and Domenico Manetti

Saint Sebastian and the Pious Women

Oil on canvas

124.3 x 148 cm.; 48⅞ x 58¼ in.

Private collection

Estimated for 60,000 - 80,000 GBP in July 2022

Saint Sebastian (died c. 288 AD) was an early Christian saint and martyr. Sebastian had prudently concealed his faith, but in 286 was detected. Diocletian reproached him for his betrayal, and he commanded him to be led to a field and there to be bound to a stake so that archers from Mauritania would shoot arrows at him. "And the archers shot at him till he was as full of arrows as an urchin is full of pricks, and thus left him there for dead." Miraculously, the arrows did not kill him.

Sebastian later stood by a staircase where the emperor was to pass and harangued Diocletian for his cruelties against Christians. This freedom of speech, and from a person whom he supposed to have been dead, greatly astonished the emperor; but, recovering from his surprise, he gave orders for his being seized and beat to death with cudgels, and his body thrown into the common sewer. A pious lady, called Lucina, admonished by the martyr in a vision, got it privately removed, and buried it in the catacombs at the entrance of the cemetery of Calixtus, where now stands the Basilica of St. Sebastian. More St. Sebastian

The name Lucina appears repeatedly in early Christian traditions in connection with the deeds of pious Roman women. It may not designate a historical person, but the topos of the "Quaedam matrona", a noble woman or widow who ensures the appropriate mourning and burial of a martyr, since the time span of the stories extends from the 1st to the 4th century. More on Lucina 

Manetti was born at Siena in 1609, and was probably a relation of Rutilio Manetti. He painted chiefly for the churches of Siena, but also produced historical subjects of an easel size. Lanzi particularly mentions one in the Casa Magnoni, representing the Baptism of Constantine. He died in 1663. More on Rutilio Manetti and Domenico Manetti

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints, 365 Days, and Biblical Icons, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others. Some Images may be subject to copyright

I don't own any of these images - credit is always given when due unless it is unknown to me. if I post your images without your permission, please tell me.

I do not sell art, art prints, framed posters or reproductions. Ads are shown only to compensate the hosting expenses.

If you enjoyed this post, please share with friends and family.

Thank you for visiting my blog and also for liking its posts and pages.

Please note that the content of this post primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online.