While his name literally means "the Slav" and his origins are unknown, it has been argued that he was in fact Italian, since all people from "the other side of the water" were scornfully called as such (schiavoni) by Venetians.
[2][3] He was a master to fellow friar and woodcarver Fra Giovanni da Verona.
[2][6] Sebastian taught Giovanni the art of woodwork in the monastery of San Giorgio in Ferrara.
[2] He also worked with an Antonio and a Paolo (from Mantua) and with the master Bernardino Ferrando from Bergamo.
[2] One of his most famous works are the 34 choir seats he made for the convent Sant'Elena in Venice, which was affiliated with the Olivetani order.