Six Saint Sebastians

Tomorrow the Dulwich Picture Gallery (title link) opens the first ever exhibition to feature six of the seven Saint Sebastians painted by Guido Reni. The Gallery owns one (left). The other five are on loan from New Zealand, South America, Madrid, Genoa and Rome. So this could be a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. What always gets me about saints is how they appear so serene, pious and angelic while they're being tortured to death. Not even a wince of pain. This is fantasy art: giving the punters what they want to see. I wonder if this is how Muslim suicide bombers picture themselves before they commit murder. The Agony And The Ecstasy: Guido Reni's Saint Sebastians continues until 11 May 2008.