Studio of Gerard van Honthorst (Utrecht 1592-1656)

The present composition is a contempory copy after Honthorst's Saint Sebastian of circa 1620 in the National Gallery, London. It is not known whether Honthorst executed his painting when still in Rome or shortly after his return to Utrecht. However, it would be likely that the present lot originated in the studio of Gerard Honthorst.

The new way of rendering the saint, three-quarter-length in a seated position with his head hanging down, may have been used by Jan van Bijlert as a model for his Saint Sebastian with Saint Irene (lot 101) (see Paul Huys Janssen, Jan van Bijlert, Amsterdam, 1998, p. 46).