Attributed to Christian Daniel Schenck, 17th century.

German school of the seventeenth century. Attributed to CHRISTIAN DANIEL SCHENCK (1633-1691).
"Saint Sebastian".
Boxwood, carved, patinated and partially painted.
Provenance: acquired in 2018 on the Dutch art market, the sculpture was part of the Brennikmeijer Collection and the Hermann Baer Collection (inventory number 156).
Measurements: 29.5 cm (height).

This carving of Saint Sebastian is a paradigmatic example of the virtuosity of Christoph Daniel Schenck, a leading figure in Central European Baroque sculpture. The work condenses the hallmarks of the master of Constance: a deep expressive dramatism -that moves between agonizing pain and mystical ecstasy- and a masterful anatomical execution.

Schenck, famous for his meticulous technique in fine woods and ivory, uses here the figure of the martyr to deploy an exhaustive study of the male nude, emphasizing the torso's torsion and muscular tension to enhance the emotional charge. With pieces present in institutions of the relevance of the Vienna Museum of Art History (KHM) or the Victoria and Albert Museum, the appearance on the market of a work that addresses one of his favorite themes represents an exceptional opportunity for international collecting.