St sebastian

Workshop of Carlo Dolci. Saint Sebastian.

Saint Sebastian by Jusepe de Ribera, 1636

St Sébastien is probably the most depicted Saint. And the most depicted gay icon today. He is represented most of the times since the Renaissance as a young, slim, athletic, sensual, beautiful young man (even though during the first centuries he had another image, at least older). Maybe it is the reason he became a gay icon. Catedral de Se. Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Brian McMorrow. Hundreds if not thousands of paintings, drawings, mosaics, engravings can be seen from St Sébastien…

"Thy foes encircle thee and watch with gleeful laughter And bended bow. Thy foes encircle thee and watch with gleeful laughter Thy torments slow. The embers burn, and gentle is the arrow's stinging 'Neath the evening sky. The embers burn, and gentle is the arrow's stinging When the end draws nigh. Why hastens not thy dream unto thy lips now pallid With deadly drouth? Why hastens not thy dream unto thy lips now pallid To kiss thy mouth?" — Valery Yaklovich Bryusov

St Sebastien