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50 - Flemish school. Circa 1500. 'Saint Blaise of Sebaste' Oil on…

Estimate €25,000 - €30,000
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Description
Flemish school. Circa 1500. 'Saint Blaise of Sebaste' Oil on panel. 84.5 x 64 cm. An exceptional Flemish work displaying all the characteristic qualities and brushwork associated with the period, depicting one of the most celebrated saintly bishops of the Christian tradition: Saint Blaise of Sebaste, renowned for his legendary communion with wild animals. Executed with remarkable technical refinement and a near-microscopic realism that neglects no detail, the composition combines the meticulous precision of the Flemish tradition with elements derived from the Italian Renaissance. The use of oil paint allows for vibrant colours, an enamel-like brilliance, and the subtle application of translucent glazes, creating sophisticated effects of light, shadow and texture. The saint’s cope, for instance, possesses the sumptuous appearance of richly woven Lyon velvet. Set within a rugged and densely wooded landscape rendered with striking naturalism, the scene is enriched by an ordered and fortified architectural complex constructed according to rigorous geometric perspective, providing an elegant contrast between the natural and the man-made worlds. Particularly noteworthy is the miniature-like attention devoted to the ornamental details of the saint’s liturgical vestments. The embroidered border of the cope, its jewelled clasp, and the episcopal crosier are executed with extraordinary precision, transforming them into objects of genuine artistic splendour. Saint Blaise, crowned with a radiant halo emphasizing his sanctity, was a bishop and physician who lived during the fourth century in what is now modern-day Turkey. As Bishop of Sebaste, in the historical region of Armenia, he became one of the most venerated Christian martyrs of Late Antiquity. According to tradition, he withdrew from the world to live as a hermit in a cave on Mount Argeus, which subsequently became the centre of his episcopal ministry. The present work illustrates the famous legend according to which, while hiding in the mountains to escape the persecution of Christians, Saint Blaise lived surrounded by wild animals that neither feared nor attacked him, but instead offered him protection. Medieval accounts further relate that these creatures sought him out to receive healing and blessing, reinforcing his reputation as a compassionate protector of both humans and animals. Saint Blaise was ultimately arrested, tortured and executed during the reign of the Roman Emperor Licinius, amid the persecutions directed against Christians in the early fourth century. His cult spread rapidly throughout the Eastern Christian world before achieving immense popularity in the West. By the Middle Ages, no fewer than thirty-five churches dedicated to Saint Blaise are recorded in Rome alone. Within the Roman Catholic tradition he is honoured as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, while in the Eastern Orthodox Church he is counted among the Holy Unmercenaries (Anargyroi), saints who offered healing freely and refused any payment for their charitable works, believing that divine grace should never be subject to financial reward. Beyond its exquisite artistic quality, the painting celebrates one of the most enduring ideals of Christian sanctity: the harmonious relationship between humanity, nature and divine providence. Through its extraordinary detail, refined execution and evocative symbolism, the work preserves the memory of a saint whose compassion extended beyond mankind to embrace the entire created world. Beyond its remarkable technical quality and rich iconography, this painting celebrates one of the most profound ideals of medieval spirituality: the harmony between humanity, nature, and the divine. The animals surrounding the saint are not merely conventional attributes, but form a true community gathered around him. The work depicts not only Saint Blaise of Sebaste himself, but also the symbolic restoration of a reconciled world, where wild creatures abandon their aggressive nature and acknowledge the sanctity of the righteous man. In this scene, the animals do not fear the saint, nor do the saint fear the beasts: both share the same reconciled landscape. There is something particularly moving in the artist’s choice to represent Saint Blaise not while performing a miracle, preaching to a crowd, or enduring martyrdom, but simply through his presence alone. It is this quiet presence that transforms the world around him. For a Flemish painter around 1500, this was perhaps one of the most profound ways of portraying holiness: not as an extraordinary act, but as a state of harmony capable of restoring peace between mankind, nature, and Creation itself.
About the sale Dialogues with the Past: Vestigia
Auction location
Auction time 07/02/2026 at 7:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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