"The Martyrdom of San Sebastian" Painting by Joseph Claes

View Similar Items

Oil on copper representing the Martyrdom of an unidentified Saint

Large Painting by Henri Joseph Thomas "At the Theater"

18th Century Oil On Canvas Painting Martyrdom of Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen

Oil Painting by Joseph Milner Kite

Tram in the Streets of San Francisco Oil Painting on Canvas

18th Century Oil on Canvas Antique Italian Painting Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew

St. Bartholomew's Martyrdom, Painting on Vellum, after Ribera y Cucó, José

German 1884 Landscape Painting of “Dutch Homestead” by Joseph Jansen

"Industry Along the River" by Joseph Wolins

California Landscape Oil Painting by Joseph Bennett

Large Bold Abstract Painting by Joseph Stabilito

Mary and Joseph in the Barn of Bethlehem, Oil Painting on Canvas

1 of 11

"The Martyrdom of San Sebastian" Painting by Joseph Claes

About the Item

The Martyrdom of San Sebastian by the Belgian painter Joseph Claes. Joseph Claes (1874-1956) was born in the Flemish part of Belgium, but spent and worked most of his life in the French speaking part of the country (Namur and Brussels). After his education at the Academy of Namur, he spent 7 years in Paris (1894-1901), where his work came strongly under the influence of the famous painter Honoré Daumier (1808-1879). In 1902 he settled down in Namur where, in 1913, he finished the ceiling-decoration of the Theatre. During the first World War, a large body of drawing and sketching emerged on the war-theme. Later, he would paint rather religious themes as well as landscapes. Although Joseph Claes was quite famous in his own time, his work is often unsigned and therefore remains largely unknown. He exhibited at the Salon Triennal in Antwerp (1926), the Retrospective Joseph Claes in Brussels (1933) and the 'Joseph Claes, une retrospective' in Namur (1994), for which a catalogue written by his granddaughter was published. A street in Brussels (Saint-Gilles) was named after him. Saint Sebastian was a Christian martyr, living in third century Italy during Roman times. Trying to convince others towards Christianity, he was convicted by the Emperor to be executed. Shot by several arrows by his executioners, he was saved by a Roman lady. When he went back a few days later to preach again, he was brutally murdered on ordeal of the Emperor. His remains are supposedly kept in the church at the catacombs near to the Via Appia in Rome (Catcombi San Sebastiano). Saint Sebastian was painted by famous painters through all ages (Mantegna, Guercino, El Greco, Rubens, Van Dijck, etc.). In 1911, a musical play called 'Le Martyre de Saint Sébastien' was created by Claude Débussy (1892-1918), based on a text by Gabriele D'Annunzio (1863-1938). This play became renowned and maybe it was of influence to artistic and sensitive figures like Joseph Claes. Saint Sebastian is an emblematic figure representing suffering and injustice. In the case of this painting by Joseph Claes, it can be seen as a complaint against the First World War, when the German Imperial Army invaded the small country of Belgium in 1914.

Creator:
Joseph Claes (Painter)
Dimensions:
Height: 83.86 in (213 cm)Width: 106.3 in (270 cm)Depth: 2.76 in (7 cm)
Place of Origin:
Belgium
Period:
1910-1919
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1920
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Antwerpen, BE
Reference Number:
Seller: 15090171stDibs: LU1568210141753