Study for ‘The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian’ (for the Augustinian monastery at Diessen, Germany)
1739
Tiepolo captures the dramatic final moments of Saint Sebastian in this energetic sketch, where the saint is bound to a tree and looks heavenward as archers prepare their shots. Above the chaos, chubby cherubs float on a cloud, offering a palm branch to signal his upcoming martyrdom and sainthood. This is a classic example of Tiepolo’s Rococo style—full of movement, theatrical lighting, and loose, expressive brushstrokes that make the scene feel like a frozen moment from a stage play. Created as a preparatory study for a grand altarpiece at the Augustinian monastery in Diessen, Germany, it reveals how the master worked out his compositions before the final paint hit the wall.
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