Saint Stephen

This fragmentary panel was one of a series of superimposed figures from the right pilaster of an unidentified Italian altarpiece, probably of late fourteenth century date. It shows St. Stephen with a book and a martyr's palm. The stone on his head identifies the deacon St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose death by stoning is recorded in the Book of Acts (6:1-8:2). The bright tempera colours and gold background with decorative tooling are typical for the period.

The painting is attributed to Andrea di Bartolo (active 1389; died 1428), one of the leading artists in Siena. The top of the arched panel has been cut off, and it has been trimmed at the bottom. The style and treatment of the gold tooling suggest that it may come from the same dispersed altarpiece as panels of St. Lucy and St. Catherine, now in the Worcester (Mass.) Art Museum.

About the painting

Particulars

In the same room · Medieval & Renaissance, Room 10, Victoria and Albert Museum

Sources

Yes, receiving visitors

Madonna of Humility, The Blessing Christ, Two Angels, and a Donor [obverse]

Christ on the Cross [reverse]

The Nativity of the Virgin

The Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple

The Lamentation

Joachim and Anna Giving Food to the Poor and Offerings to the Temple

Saint Costanzo ?

Saint Antoine abbé

The Virgin and Child, ca. 1510

The Virgin and Child, ca. 1500-1510

St Francis, ca. 1500-1525

Virgin and Child, ca. 1500

The Virgin and Child, ca. 1500-1520

St Anne with the Virgin and Child, ca. 1500-1520

St Anthony of Padua with a Nun, ca. 1500

St Barbara, ca. 1500

What it shows

In the catalog