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SV. Irina heals of St. Sebastian (Remove the arrows)
Georges de La Tour • Painting, 1630-th
, 104.8×139.4 cm
Description of the artwork «SV. Irina heals of St. Sebastian (Remove the arrows)»
Original painting Georges de La tour "Irina Holy doctor Saint Sebastian" not preserved, however, reached us eight ancient copies of this work. The best of them is in the Kimbell Museum, in Fort worth (USA). On the Museum's website the wording is a little bolder: "attributed to de La tour".
History paintings Latour's non-trivial. "Holy Irina doctor of St. Sebastian" has become a favorite painting of French king Louis XIII. It is known that Georges de Latour was a native of Lorraine, who in the XVII century was a very economically and culturally developed region and has sovereignty, lost dramatically during the life of Latour. Lorraine was occupied by French government troops; in their retreat the town of Lunéville, where he lived and worked the artist, almost completely burned out by fire. After that Latour with his large family was forced to seek and refuge, and a new employer. He fled Luneville first in Nancy, the ancient capital of Lorraine, and then to Paris to try his luck at court. Probably, he was lucky. Royal account book containing information on cash payments to the artist, refers to Latour's "an ordinary painter of the king". It is known that "Saint Irina, treating of St. Sebastian" was presented by the author as a gift to Louis XIII. Her soft mysterious light and easy to read romantic subtext made a lasting impression on the monarch. The king ordered to delete all other paintings from the walls of his bedroom, and instead hang a picture there?
Raids and fires were not the only trouble the modern Latour Lorraine (as well as all over Europe). Even more devastating disaster for European cities was the plague. Epidemic rolled in the waves, collecting the harvest in the form of thousands and thousands of lives. Looking for irrational forces, capable to protect from the plague, people turned to God and the saints. Catholic Martyr Sebastian was the patron and defender of the plague from the plague. Before the French occupation of Lunéville just survived a terrible epidemic. Perhaps this explains the appeal of Georges de La tour the story of Saint Sebastian.
Saint Sebastian was a Roman Legionnaire in the III century BC, during the reign of the persecutor of Christians, Emperor Diocletian. Sebastian secretly converted to Christianity, but were exposed, arrested and sentenced by the Emperor to death. Roman soldiers were released in Sebastian for at least five arrows, and, being assured that he was already dead, threw his body at the mercy of the birds. According to legend, a pious widow named Irene night found Sebastian, extracted from the body of the arrow and left him. However, then Sebastian, not renouncing Christ and the second time will still be executed by stoning. Irina will be recognized by the Catholic Church and Saint would be the patron of the sisters of mercy.
Known Louvre Latour's painting of the same title. It is more refined in composition and significantly more monumental than the one in question. "Sveta Irina, treating of St. Sebastian" from the Kimbell Museum is a more intimate interpretation of the story, she is also known as "taking the arrows". Here Latour's too much sensual overtones, to refer to purely religious art.
Author: Anna Yesterday
History paintings Latour's non-trivial. "Holy Irina doctor of St. Sebastian" has become a favorite painting of French king Louis XIII. It is known that Georges de Latour was a native of Lorraine, who in the XVII century was a very economically and culturally developed region and has sovereignty, lost dramatically during the life of Latour. Lorraine was occupied by French government troops; in their retreat the town of Lunéville, where he lived and worked the artist, almost completely burned out by fire. After that Latour with his large family was forced to seek and refuge, and a new employer. He fled Luneville first in Nancy, the ancient capital of Lorraine, and then to Paris to try his luck at court. Probably, he was lucky. Royal account book containing information on cash payments to the artist, refers to Latour's "an ordinary painter of the king". It is known that "Saint Irina, treating of St. Sebastian" was presented by the author as a gift to Louis XIII. Her soft mysterious light and easy to read romantic subtext made a lasting impression on the monarch. The king ordered to delete all other paintings from the walls of his bedroom, and instead hang a picture there?
Raids and fires were not the only trouble the modern Latour Lorraine (as well as all over Europe). Even more devastating disaster for European cities was the plague. Epidemic rolled in the waves, collecting the harvest in the form of thousands and thousands of lives. Looking for irrational forces, capable to protect from the plague, people turned to God and the saints. Catholic Martyr Sebastian was the patron and defender of the plague from the plague. Before the French occupation of Lunéville just survived a terrible epidemic. Perhaps this explains the appeal of Georges de La tour the story of Saint Sebastian.
Saint Sebastian was a Roman Legionnaire in the III century BC, during the reign of the persecutor of Christians, Emperor Diocletian. Sebastian secretly converted to Christianity, but were exposed, arrested and sentenced by the Emperor to death. Roman soldiers were released in Sebastian for at least five arrows, and, being assured that he was already dead, threw his body at the mercy of the birds. According to legend, a pious widow named Irene night found Sebastian, extracted from the body of the arrow and left him. However, then Sebastian, not renouncing Christ and the second time will still be executed by stoning. Irina will be recognized by the Catholic Church and Saint would be the patron of the sisters of mercy.
Known Louvre Latour's painting of the same title. It is more refined in composition and significantly more monumental than the one in question. "Sveta Irina, treating of St. Sebastian" from the Kimbell Museum is a more intimate interpretation of the story, she is also known as "taking the arrows". Here Latour's too much sensual overtones, to refer to purely religious art.
Author: Anna Yesterday
