Focus on St Sebastian (Antonello da Messina) and explore the History.
The visit of the Sicilian artist Antonello da Messina to Venice in 1475–1476 has traditionally been seen as turning point in the history of the city's painting – Giorgio Vasari crediting him with introducing oil painting to Venice. Antonello painted two altarpieces for Venetian churches, one for the church of San Cassiano, and the other, of which the St Sebastian once formed part, for the altar of the Scuola di San Rocca in the parish church of San Giuliano. It has often been assumed to have been painted in Venice in 1476, but it may have been painted only after Antonello's return to Sicily in the autumn of that year. A description by Francesco Sansovino, dating from 1581, indicates that the altarpiece consisted of a wooden statue of St Roche, flanked by painted panels showing St Christopher and St Sebastian. Sansovino describes the panel of St Christopher  as being by  Antonello, and that of St Sebastian as being by "Pino da Messina" (i.e. his son Jacobello or "Jacopino"). However  art historians have  generally accepted  Antonello's authorship of the St Sebastian.  The statue and the painting of St Christopher are now lost.
Francesco Sansovino Scuola di San Rocca Giorgio Vasari Pino da Messina St Roche Antonello da Messina Venetian St Christopher