From My Art Readings This Week
In 2014, Federico Castelluccio, best known as Furio from The Sopranos, walked into an art gallery in Frankfurt, Germany, and spotted a painting that didn’t quite fit its label. It was marked as an 18th-century copy, priced modestly at around $68,000. But Castelluccio, a passionate art collector and skilled painter himself, trusted his instincts. He believed the artwork was far older and far more valuable. He was right.
After purchasing the piece, he spent an additional $72,000 on restoration, scientific analysis, and expert consultations. The result was stunning. The painting was confirmed to be a 17th-century masterpiece by the Italian Baroque painter Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, better known as Guercino. The subject? A hauntingly beautiful image of Saint Sebastian, bound and pierced with arrows, rendered in Guercino’s signature dramatic lighting and emotional intensity.
Art historians were amazed. A painting of this scale and quality, lost for centuries, had surfaced in plain sight. Thanks to Castelluccio’s sharp eye, what was once misattributed became a rediscovered treasure valued at up to $10 million. It has since been displayed at major institutions, including the Princeton University Art Museum, where it continues to attract admiration and scholarly interest.
Castelluccio’s discovery is not just a story of luck, it’s a testament to knowledge, intuition, and a deep appreciation for art history. His find reminds us that the art world still holds hidden gems, and that sometimes, it takes a unique perspective to see beyond the surface.
Meanwhile, here are other paintings of St Sebastian:
For other Paintings of St Sebastian read:
Moreover, Did you also know that.....
There’s something about Saint Sebastian that has drawn the queer gaze for centuries, and it’s not hard to see why. His story is drenched in both beauty and tragedy—an exquisite young soldier in the Roman army who defied imperial power to protect his fellow Christians, only to be bound to a post and shot through with arrows. Artists across generations couldn’t resist lingering over the moment of his suffering, painting his body taut and bare, the smooth planes of his chest interrupted only by the delicate cruelty of the arrows. What was intended as a depiction of pious martyrdom became, for many queer men, an image of transcendence through the body, of vulnerability made beautiful.
In the 19th century, as #homosexuality was still criminalized and coded language was essential, figures like Oscar Wilde found in Sebastian a symbol that could speak to desire, pain, and courage all at once. His image became a secret nod among men who recognized themselves in the soft curve of a hip or the serene expression that seemed to say: you can wound me, but you cannot take my essence. Photographers and painters of the modern era, from Mapplethorpe to contemporary queer artists, have continued to reinterpret him—not as a distant saint, but as a mirror for the way beauty, suffering, and desire tangle together in the queer imagination. He’s both untouchable and deeply intimate, a reminder that even in moments of persecution, the body can remain a site of power, defiance, and allure.
Lastly. Did you Know that.....
With its huge tail, freaky sail-like fin, and long claws, the Hydrosaurus looks like it should be guarding treasure or breathing fire. But instead, it’s chilling in tropical rivers, basking on rocks, and snacking on plants, fruits, and the occasional insect. It’s the largest of all the agamid lizards and can grow over a metre long!
Here’s where it gets even cooler: when predators get too close, this dragon zooms across the surface of water using only its back legs, Jesus-lizard style. That’s not CGI. That’s just peak reptilian drama.
And that sail on its back? Scientists think it helps with balance while running, soaking up heat, or attracting mates. So yes, it’s part superhero cape, part solar panel, and part pickup line.
These dragons are also shy and super sensitive to habitat loss, which means they’re now under threat. Logging, pet trade, and shrinking rainforests have made sightings in the wild rare, but not impossible.
So next time you’re trekking through the Philippines and hear a splash followed by something sprinting over water, don’t panic. You might’ve just met the jungle’s most stylish escape artist.
In Addition, Did you know that....
In the Philippines, karaoke isn’t just entertainment—it’s a cultural rite. From birthdays to barangay fiestas, no Filipino gathering feels complete without a karaoke machine.
And it’s unspoken tradition that everyone must sing at least one song, whether you're good or tone-deaf.
It’s practically a citizenship requirement—and yes, someone will sing "My Way" before the night ends (though hopefully, not start a fight).
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