Stoning of S. Stephan

Andrea Previtali painted this Stoning of Saint Stephen around 1515, depicting the first Christian martyr's death by stoning in a narrative format that required management of multiple figures in violent action. The martyrdom of Stephen—the deacon condemned by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy who became the protodiakon—was a subject with particular meaning for the Augustinian and Dominican orders who emphasized martyrdom as the highest form of imitation of Christ. Previtali's Bergamask background combined with his Venetian training gave him the tools to handle both the physical drama of the stoning and the spiritual dignity of the saint. His warm coloring and careful figure construction distinguish the work from more conventionally Venetian treatments of the martyrdom subject.

The panel shows the warm tonal palette and atmospheric depth characteristic of Venetian-influenced painting, with the rich glazes and soft modeling typical of the north Italian tradition.