Reliquary bust of Saint Sebastian

This piece is a reliquary bust that represents Saint Sebastian as a half-length figure at the moment of his martyrdom. The artist shows a young mand who is half-naked, only covered by a small cloth and tied to a tree. The figure adopts a foreshortening pose that seeks to direct attention toward the sacrifice he is enduring. In this sacrifice, the traditional arrows disappear and a deliberate interest is manifested in emphasizing, through his gaze, the palm of victory recently achieved. This is a well-known symbol of the triumph of Christian martyrs.

It is important to highlight the chromatic contrast between the grayish body of the saint and the gilded elements of the hair, the tree, the palm, and the cloth. Likewise, the figure rests upon a molded pedestal of cruciform section, which is also gilded. This preserves the traditional central hollow intended to hold relics, as is observed in other pieces from the same series.