Saint Sebastian

Nicoletto da Modena is best known for his idiosyncratic prints and engravings. His works are rendered in a style characterized by delicate cross-hatching and purity of line, with some similarity to the Ferrarese Tarocchi cards. Here the martyr Saint Sebastian is lashed rather serenely to a decorative column in a landscape setting with ancient ruins. Nicoletto often used a burr to produce the decorated surface effects, best seen in the darker areas of the ceiling architecture.