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.