(b. 1485, Venezia, d. 1547, Roma)

San Giovanni Crisostomo and Saints c. 1509 Oil on canvas, 200 x 156 cm S. Giovanni Crisostomo, Venice

The altarpiece has at the centre an old man reading, oblivious of the saints around him. It is a tightly knit and crowded group, the slightly yearning figure of St John the Baptist on the right looking inwards is balanced by a trio of grandly assured, superb Venetian beauties looking forwards and outwards at the spectator. The figures are in an architectural setting.

This altarpiece is the major work of Sebastiano executed in Venice before he removed to Rome permanently in 1511.

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Author: SEBASTIANO DEL PIOMBO Title: San Giovanni Crisostomo and Saints Time-line: 1501-1550 School: Italian Form: painting