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| El Greco St Sebastian ca. 1610-14 Prado |
By the 17th century St. Sebastian had firmly established himself as Europe's favorite saint in time of plague. Science was being born and capitalism was taking root, but prayer was still the mainstream method relied on for protection during recurring epidemics that might kill half the population of a city. For purposes of plague relief, St. Sebastian became the immediate object of all that urgent praying. The 17th century was a time when people could be sentenced to life as galley slaves. Even to travel by sea with the privileges of a passenger included the very real risk of being kidnapped by pirates. Plague remained a repeated uncontrollable disaster. With these extremes in the background, baroque images of St. Sebastian begin to appear less contrived, less extravagant.
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| Joachim Wtewael St Sebastian early 17th century Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art |
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| Gerrit Honthorst St. Sebastian mid-17th century National Gallery, London |
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| Jusepe de Ribera St Sebastian 1636 Prado |
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| Jusepe de Ribera St Sebastian 1651 Museo di San Martino, Naples |
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| Jusepe Leonardo St Sebastian 1637 Prado |
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| Juan Carreño de Miranda St Sebastian ca. 1655-65 Rijksmuseum |
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| Lodovico Carracci St Sebastian early 17th century Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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| Tanzio da Varallo St Sebastian 1620s National Gallery of Art (U.S.) |
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| Juan Carreño de Miranda St Sebastian 1656 Prado |
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| Italian Painter St Sebastian 17th century Prado |
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| Guido Reni St Sebastian 17th century Prado |
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| Luca Giordano St Sebastian with St Irene ca. 1665 Philadelphia Museum of Art |
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| Bernardo Strozzi St Sebastian with St Irene ca. 1631-36 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |