Saint Sebastian

Saint Sebastian

18th century
Artist
unknown artist
Locale
Goa, India Uncertain
Country
Philippines, Uncertain, India, Uncertain
Object
figurine
Medium
Ivory and paint
Accession Number
1971.488
Credit Line
Gift of Olive Bigelow

Unknown artist, Saint Sebastian, 1700s. Ivory and paint; 7¼ in. Gift of Olive Bigelow, 1971.488.

Dimensions
overall height: 7.25 in, 18.4150 cm
Inscription
St. Sebastian
Department
Mayer Center, Latin American Art
Collection
Latin American Art
This object is currently on view

This small work in ivory shows Saint Sebastian with his traditional iconography: tied to a tree and pierced with arrow wounds. These may have originally been adorned with metal arrows that have since been lost. The saint stands in a mild contrapposto pose, though his anatomy is not fully realized and his face fleshy.

Small ivory statues were among the desirable luxury goods shipped from the Philippines to Latin America and Europe via the Manila Galleon trade route. They were typically produced in Manila by Chinese artists (known as sangleys) using raw ivory tusks imported from East Africa or India. Many relied on European engravings as models.

– Kathryn Santner, Frederick and Jan Mayer Fellow of Spanish Colonial Art, 2023

Known Provenance
Gifted 31 August 1971 by Olive Bigelow to the Denver Art Museum. Provenance research is on-going at the Denver Art Museum. Please e-mail provenance@denverartmuseum.org, if you have questions, or if you have additional information to share with us.