The Treasure of San Sebastiano in Panicale

The Church of Saint Sebastian in Panicale has an art treasure on its walls; a large fresco by  the greatest Umbrian Renaissance painter Pietro Vannucci, known as Il Perugino. Entitled 'The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian', it was painted in 1505. San Sebastiano was a Roman soldier who was attacked by his former comrades after he converted to Christianity. He is always depicted in art with arrows in him, sometimes just one but often a large number. I love his serene look in this depiction .

Note the local landscape behind, Lago Trasimeno and the surrounding hills.

For the next eight weeks they have an extended collection on display entitled ' The Treasure of San Sebastiano' which includes other art, manuscripts and sacred furnishings and vestments from the church's archives.

A fresco from another of the old village churches has been lifted from the wall, restored and placed in San Sebastiano for preservation. It was thought to be another Il Perugino however more modern techniques and references have ascribed the work to Raphael, who was a student of Il Perugino. Entitled 'The Madonna Enthroned with Angels', the detail is extremely beautiful.

This tempura on board ' Adoration of the Magi'  is entirely different to the other works yet intriguingly worth a long look. The photo does not do it justice at all. It is a modern work, 1982-84, but unfortunately I cannot remember the artist.

The exhibition includes manuscripts, votives and a relic. Fascinating old stuff!