Alonso Sánchez Coello: Mystical allegory with Saint Sebastian, Saint Bernard and Saint Francis (1582)

(Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain)

a painting by the Spanish artist Alonso Sánchez Coello (1532-1588). This altarpiece is divided into two parts. At the bottom is Saint Sebastian, patron saint of archers, soldiers and athletes, who is tied against a tree. To his left and right are Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (left) and Saint Francis of Assisi (right). The upper half shows Christ, the Virgin Mary, the holy spirit (the dove at the top) and God. This piece painted for a chapel of Francisca de Vargas y Clemente Gaitán de Vargas, secretary of king Philip II of Spain, in the convent of San Felipe el Real in Madrid. Painting from 1582.