Saint Stephen Mourned by Saints Gamaliel and Nicodemus
Pensionante del Saraceni
(Italian, active 1610–1625)
Carlo Saraceni
(Italian (Venetian), about 1579–1620)
about 1615
Medium/TechniqueOil on canvas
Dimensions113.1 x 155.3 cm (44 1/2 x 61 1/8 in.)
Credit LineM. Theresa B. Hopkins Fund and Charles Potter Kling Fund
Accession number1978.160
On View
Not on viewClassificationsPaintings
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The martyrdom of Saint Stephen, who was stoned to death after delivering a fiery sermon, is described in the Biblical Book of Acts. In this image, the sympathetic Jews Gamaliel and Nicodemus wait to bury Stephen, while the crowd disperses in the distance. Stephen, considered the first Christian martyr, was one of the first seven deacons appointed by Christ's apostles. His red and gold vestments accentuate the pallor of his face and hands, as the lush landscape in the background contrasts with the hard, cold stones beneath him.
ProvenanceAbout 1615, possibly commissioned by Cardinale Jacopo Sannesi for the Sannesi chapel at San Silvestro al Quirinale, Rome; probably kept at the Sannesi Palace (later the Cavalieri Palace), Rome and passed by descent within the family to Uldorico Orsini de Cavalieri; 1802, probably sold by Uldorico Orsini de Cavalieri to art dealer Pietro Camuccini (b. 1761 - d. 1833), Rome; by inheritance to his nephew, Giovanni Battista Camuccini, Rome; 1856, sold by Camuccini to Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland (b. 1792 - d. 1865), Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, England; until 1978, by descent within the family and kept at Alnwick Castle [see note 1]; 1978, sold by the Duke of Northumberland to Thos. Agnew and Sons, Ltd., London; 1978, sold by Agnew to the MFA [see note 2]. (Accession Date: May 10, 1978)NOTES:
[1] Attributed to Caravaggio. [2] Accessioned as a work by Saraceni.
Simone del Tintore
Francesco del Cossa
Third quarter of the 15th century
