St Sebastian - Pietrus Perugino (1493-1494)

St Sebastian is one of several paintings of Saint Sebastian by Perugino. It shows him three-quarter length and is signed "P[I]E[T]RUS PERUSINUS PINXIT" (Pinxit=painted this) on the arrow in his neck. It was painted in 1493-1494. It is now in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Saint Sebastian (c. AD 256 – 288) was an early Christian saint and martyr. According to traditional belief, he was killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He was initially tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows, though this did not kill him. He was, according to tradition, rescued and healed by Saint Irene of Rome, which became a popular subject in 17th-century painting. In all versions of the story, shortly after his recovery he went to Diocletian to warn him about his sins, and as a result was clubbed to death. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church.