Stoning of St. Stephen
Gentile da Fabriano·1423
Historical Context
The Stoning of St. Stephen, painted in 1423, belongs to Gentile da Fabriano's productive Florentine period when he was working on the famous Strozzi Altarpiece for Santa Trinita. This predella scene demonstrates the narrative skill that made Gentile one of the most sought-after painters in early quattrocento Italy. Characteristic of the artist's mature approach, the work displays sumptuous gold and jewel-like color, elegant courtly figures in elaborate brocade, lyrical narrative, exquisite surface detail in goldwork and textiles.
Technical Analysis
The small-scale panel shows Gentile's characteristic refinement in figure grouping and spatial arrangement, with rich tempera colors applied over gold ground.
