1756, Engraving. Bequest of William Sharp Ogden, 1926.
Accession Number: P.6529
Source: the Whitworth
St. Sebastian is a very famous third century Catholic saint and martyr. More recently he has become a gay icon, due I think to his depiction over the centuries as a beautiful young man and the persecution he endured. This 18th century etching of St Sebastian is by Italian engraver, Ferdinando Gregori.
Growing up in the 1980’s, pre-internet, I would have seen fleeting images of shirtless handsome young men, watching sports on TV. But images like this, that I could stare at and admire could only be found in my world then in art history books. Thankfully we had a few at home. I was quite a repressed and closeted young man. A product of the society I was brought up in compounded by my own anxieties. This image reminds me of my former self and the art depicted in those books.
Written by Ed Flanagan.
Queering The Whitworth 
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