Saint Sebastian - Marcel Delmotte (1901 – 1984)

Marcel Delmotte (1901 – 1984)

Saint Sébastien

Pencil on paper
Signed and dated 1945



Visual
H 33 x W 25 cm
H 9 7/8 x W 13 inch

Frame
H 49,5 x W 40 cm
H 15 4/5 x W 19 1/2 inch

This delicate pencil drawing by Belgian artist Marcel Delmotte shows Saint Sebastian, one of the most enduring subjects of Christian iconography. Shown bound to a tree or column, his semi-nude figure pierced by arrows, Sebastian became a symbol of martyrdom, endurance, and faith during times of trial.

Delmotte, primarily known for his Symbolist and later Surrealist-inspired works, here demonstrates a strong command of draughtsmanship and a classical sense of form. The saint’s idealised anatomy, balanced contrapposto stance, and serene expression resonate with Renaissance and Neoclassical traditions, while the restrained use of shading enhances the sculptural presence of the figure.

The work is signed and dated “St Sébastien / M. Delmotte 1945”, situating it at the close of the Second World War - a moment when the theme of martyrdom and resistance would have carried particular resonance in occupied Belgium.

This drawing not only exemplifies Delmotte’s technical precision but also reveals his engagement with timeless subjects, reinterpreted through the lens of modern history.