Sexual Healing: Saint Sebastian During the Plague
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
Saint Sebastian’s cult flourished shortly after the plague outbreaks that shook Europe in the fourteenth century. Questions abound regarding Sebastian’s plague imagery: why did he become so popular, and more importantly, why is he portrayed in such an erotic way? This paper argues that the fetishization of Sebastian during the Italian Renaissance can be explained by examining his suffering during his life, his defeat of death and passionate martyrdom, and his relation to both Apollo and Christ himself.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Dr. Muraoka
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Art and Architecture
Session Title
Art History 3
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1310
Start Date
2-2-2019 11:30 AM
End Date
2-2-2019 12:30 PM
Sexual Healing: Saint Sebastian During the Plague
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1310
Saint Sebastian’s cult flourished shortly after the plague outbreaks that shook Europe in the fourteenth century. Questions abound regarding Sebastian’s plague imagery: why did he become so popular, and more importantly, why is he portrayed in such an erotic way? This paper argues that the fetishization of Sebastian during the Italian Renaissance can be explained by examining his suffering during his life, his defeat of death and passionate martyrdom, and his relation to both Apollo and Christ himself.