Presented by Dr. Kirk Nickel, Curator of European Art

Depictions of St. Sebastian have a reputation for being a bit sexy, and Jean-Simon Berthélemy’s painting of the Roman soldier’s martyrdom is no exception. This makes the picture an ideal centerpiece for the Haggerty’s fall exhibition “Capture the Senses: Attraction and Horror in Early Modern Art.” In a 20-minute discussion, Dr. Nickel will draw attention to the painting’s fascinating break with convention and share the curatorial sleuthing that led to the artwork’s reattribution.

Image: Attributed to Jean-Simon Berthélemy, “The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian”, c. 1773-1774, Oil on canvas, Museum purchase, 2000.6, Collection of the Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University