The Stoning of Saint Stephen
About this artwork
St Stephen was the first Christian martyr and experienced a vision of the open heavens as he was being stoned to death. He had angered the authorities in Jerusalem with his zealous preaching and was accused of blasphemy. He wears the robes of a deacon, as he was also one of the first seven deacons appointed by the apostles. A beam of intense light shines on the kneeling saint and angels tumble towards him bearing the palm fronds of martyrdom and a laurel crown. The Flemish landscape artist Paul Bril, who lived in Rome, may have owned this painting.
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title:The Stoning of Saint Stephen
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accession number:NG 2281
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materials:Oil on tinned copper
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date created:About 1603 - 1604
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measurements:34.70 x 28.60 cm (framed: 45.30 x 39.20 x 4.80 cm)
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credit line:Purchased 1965
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photographer:Antonia Reeve
Adam Elsheimer
Adam Elsheimer
Elsheimer specialised in detailed brilliantly coloured paintings on copper. He combined figures and landscape vistas with precision and delicacy paying particular attention to the effects of light. His work was greatly admired and profoundly influenced many artists in Rome, especially those from Northern Europe, including Rubens and Claude. Elsheimer was…