Indiana University Indiana University IU

Browse the collection

The Captive (or The Martyr, Saint Sebastian)

Artist Ahron Ben-Shmuel (American, 1903–1984)
Title The Captive (or The Martyr, Saint Sebastian)
Date 1932
Medium Bronze on wood base
Dimensions Overall (with base): 15 1/8 × 4 5/8 × 3 9/16 in. (38.4 × 11.7 × 9 cm)
Overal (without base)l: 13 7/8 × 3 3/8 × 2 5/8 in. (35.2 × 8.6 × 6.7 cm)
Credit Line Museum purchase with funds from the Estate of Herman B Wells via the Joseph Granville and Anna Bernice Wells Memorial Fund, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 2017.63

Share this artwork!

About this Work

Ben-Shmuel’s streamlined aesthetic reflected his study of ancient sculpture as well as the influence of modernism. This work depicts the elongated figure of the early Christian martyr Saint Sebastian, a Roman officer. In its expression of anguish, the work has stylistic and thematic affinities with German Expressionism.


Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

Viewing Information
This artwork is currently on view.

 

Request this Image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request. This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.

Cite this Page
"The Captive (or The Martyr, Saint Sebastian) | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2024. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=2017.63