Saint Stephen

Stephen is regarded as the first Christian martyr, killed for his faith by a mob in a public stoning. He is identified here by two rocks firmly embedded in his head. This painting is a fragment of a multi‑paneled altarpiece. The work’s unusually well‑preserved paint surface offers a good sense of the original appearance of a tempera painting, in which gold leaf is applied first, leaving space for the figure to be painted. Pigments mixed with water and egg yolk are laid on in many tiny strokes that dry quickly. Note the gorgeous meandering hem of the blue robe, revealing the pink lining inside.