Angel Supporting St. Sebastian
Shot with arrows and left for dead, against the angel's leg, Sebastian sinks. In time, he'll become the patron saint of athletes and bookbinders. But for now, who wouldn't want to be delivered into the sculpted arms of this seraph, his heavenly shoulders and biceps? The artist understood the swoon of doctrine, its fundamental musculature, and the human need to lean against the lusty form, accept the discourse that assigns to each of us a winged guardian whispering into our ringing ears.
Credit
From Domain of Perfect Affection © 2006. All rights are controlled by the University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Used by permission of the University of Pittsburgh Press.
Date Published
01/01/2006