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Sebastian was a soldier who enlisted in Rome in the 4th century A.D. who was promoted to the position of bodyguard to the Roman Emperor. When the Emperor found out that Sebastian was a follower of Christ's teaching, he ordered Sebastian tied to a stake and shot with arrows. Sebastian survived this attack but after challenging the Emperor because of his cruelty, he was beaten to death with clubs.

Saint Sebastian is traditionally shown in Renaissance sculpture as we see him here, tied to a tree or stake, his body riddled with arrows. Gregor Erhart painted his sculpture and included blue bruises and dripping blood around the arrow holes. But there is something missing! The arrow holes are carved at different angles, a clue that they once held arrows that would have stuck out in every direction. Imagine the dramatic contrast between the spiky arrows pointing every which way and the calm, quiet figure of Saint Sebastian.

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