Alphonse Mattia
Saint Sebastian, 2000

Material: Wood, 7 deadly sins and darts

American studio craft master and educator Alphonse Mattia’s “Saint Sebastian”. In the work, Mattia alluding to the history of Saint Sebastian. Saint Sebastian (3rd century) was a Roman Christian martyr and Praetorian Guard captain under Emperor Diocletian, who secretly aided Christians. Discovered, he was sentenced to be executed by archers, survived being shot with arrows, was nursed back to health by St. Irene.

Saint Sebastian is recognized as a symbol of endurance, courage, and protection and commonly associated with ideas regarding assistance for those suffering from the persecution of their faith.

The sculptural work is interactive and includes many holes in both the head and the heart of the figure (representative of the arrow holes Saint Sebastian was riddled with) in which pegged components depicting the seven deadly sins can be inserted. Additionally, the work includes two darts which can also be inserted into the holes.

Accompanying the sculpture is a hanging tray outfitted with a pegboard-like surface which can hold the seven deadly sins and dart pieces when they are not inserted in the figure.