The Martyrdom of St Stephen

Bernardo Daddi painted this Martyrdom of Saint Stephen around 1324 for the Basilica of Santa Croce, the great Franciscan church that housed some of the most important fresco and panel painting cycles in Trecento Florence. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was a particularly important saint for Florence, and his stoning was a frequently depicted subject. This early work by Daddi shows him developing his distinctive narrative style under Giotto's direct influence.

Egg tempera on panel with gold ground. The young Daddi employs Giotto's spatial principles to organize the stoning scene, with the circle of persecutors creating a dynamic compositional rhythm around the kneeling saint.