Saint Sebastian Tended by Saint Irene always survived this, to be killed with stones some time later; these are sometimes called his "second" and "first martyrdom". This episode takes place between them, when after the archery, Irene, who is normally accompanied by her maid, is shown either taking an unconscious Sebastian down from the tree or post he was tied to, or when they have got him to a bed and are treating his wounds. In both scenes Irene is usually shown pulling out one of the arrows. Sometimes she is putting ointment on the wounds; a jar of ointment was her attribute. Both scenes are
Jacopo Pesaro being presented by Pope Alexander VI to Saint Peter off his helmet, which sits beside the dais. Alexander had contributed 13 galleys to the mainly Venetian war effort, the Venetian fleet being commanded by Benedetto Pesaro, Jacopo's cousin. Between Pesaro's head and Peter war-galleys can be seen in action, and to the right of Alexander more sea, ending at the town of Lefkada, or perhaps one on Paphos. Apart from these specifics, the composition adapts the usual Venetian formula for an ex-voto of the donor being presented to the Virgin Mary by their patron saint, especially as developed by Giovanni Bellini, in whose studio Titian spent some time. The