This is my original painting of Saint Sebastian. It is painted in acrylics on canvas, measures 8" x 16", and is framed in a sleek, flat black finish metal frame. To order a giclee print on canvas of the same dimenstions, and framed in the same way, select "giclee print" option above.

"According to his legend, Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army at Rome in about 283, and encouraged Marcellian and Marcus, under sentence of death, to remain firm in their faith. Sebastian made numerous converts: among them were the master of the rolls, Nicostratus, who was in charge of prisoners and his wife, Zoe, a deaf mute whom he cured; the jailer Claudius; Chromatius, Prefect of Rome, whom he cured of gout; and Chromatius' son, Tiburtius. Chromatius set the prisoners free, freed his slaves, and resigned as prefect.

"Sebastian was named captain in the praetorian guards by Emperor Diocletian, as did Emperor Maximian when Diocletian went to the East. Neither knew that Sebastian was a Christian. When it was discovered during Maximian's persecution of the Christians that Sebastian was indeed a Christian, he was ordered executed. He was shot with arrows and left for dead, but when the widow of St. Castulus went to recover his body, she found he was still alive and nursed him back to health. Soon after, Sebastian intercepted the Emperor, denounced him for his cruelty to Christians, and was beaten to death on the Emperor's orders." (from Catholic Online)

The style I used has been called "stained glass like." I love color! I tried to portray him in a way that reminds us of the way Christ offered himself to the Father for us. His face is peaceful, as that of many a martyr at the moment of death.

Patron saint of athletes and soldiers, his feast day is January 20th.