The martyrdom of Saint Sebastian

Saint Sebastian’s martyrdom, with its combination of idealized male anatomy and dramatic suffering, was one of the most enduring subjects in European art. Stom’s 1629 treatment, now in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, dates from his early Italian career when Caravaggist influence was at its strongest. The torchlit setting transforms a conventional devotional subject into a scene of visceral nocturnal drama. Stom's mastery of candlelight effects was among the most technically accomplished of all Caravaggist painters, surpassing many of his contemporaries in the subtlety of his graduated shadows and the warmth of his artificial illumination.

Arrows pierce the saint’s illuminated body against an impenetrable dark background, creating a stark figure-ground contrast. The flesh painting shows careful observation of light on skin, with subtle reflected light in the shadows.