The Stoning of St. Stephen (c.1603) Annibale Caracci. December 26th is the Feast Day of St. Stephen. St. Stephen is recognized as the protomartyr (first martyr) of Christianity. He was stoned to death outside of the walls of Jerusalem after provoking a crowd. Caracci’s depiction shows what Stephen cried out , “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.”(Acts 7-56) We see St. Stephen focused on the sky as an angel flies toward him with a martyr’s crown and palm frond as God watches (globe in hand) with Jesus on his right. We also see Saul (later to be Paul), sitting against a tree with garments on the ground nearby that the stone-throwers had laid at his feet.

This very small painting (16in x 21in / 42cm x 54cm) is on display inside a glass case at the Louvre, which made it hard to observe while we visited. However, the picture on the Louvre’s website is fantastic and allows for easy observation.

In researching this post, I noticed another painting attributed to Annibale Caracci depicting the same event, but presented slightly differently.

This painting shows a higher perspective and features the landscape behind the city’s walls, but otherwise very similar to the painting at the Louvre. In fact, most online sources indicate that this painting is at the Louvre. However, I have not been able to find it in the online catalog. Another notable difference between this painting and the one at the Louvre is that it is pained on canvas whereas the Louvre painting is painted on copper.

Curious indeed.