Muhammad Ali as Saint Sebastian

Carl Fischer

1924–2023

Muhammad Ali as Saint Sebastian, 1967

Portfolio/Series title: "The Passion of Muhammad Ali," published in Esquire

Where object was made: United States

Material/technique: chromogenic print from original transparency

Dimensions:
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 21.7 x 17.8 cm
Image Dimensions Height/Width (Height x Width): 8 9/16 x 7 1/2 in
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 25.2 x 20 cm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 9 15/16 x 7 7/8 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Copyright Carl Fischer

Accession number: 2016.0257

Not on display

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American Dream

Gordon Parks’s photograph captures the famous boxer and activist Muhammad Ali mid-workout. Ali is often remembered for his vocal stance against both racism and the Vietnam War despite encountering public opposition, which negatively affected his career. Rather than portray Ali as a fighter, Fischer compares the Muslim Ali to the tragic Christian martyr Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes. Sebastian was ordered to death by arrows for having been a Christian and trying to convert others while serving in the army. While Sebastian actually went to battle, Ali refused to fight because of his religious beliefs. —Ronnie Bryant