Predella Panel Representing the Legend of St. Stephen: Devils Agitating the Sea as Giuliana Transports the Body of St. Stephen from Jerusalem to Constantinople / The Re-interment of St. Stephen beside St. Lawrence in Rome

Mariotto di Nardo's treatment of this sacred subject in 1408 exemplifies the central role of religious painting in the Early Renaissance. Mariotto di Nardo approaches the subject with characteristic reverence and technical skill, creating an image that would have resonated deeply with contemporary viewers. Created during the first decades of the fifteenth century, the work belongs to a period when International Gothic elegance was giving way to the naturalistic impulses that would define the Renaissance.

The devotional work is executed with skilled technique, reflecting Mariotto di Nardo's engagement with the demands of religious painting. The composition balances narrative clarity with spiritual atmosphere, using careful observation to heighten the sacred drama.