The Martyrdom of St Stephen 1603

Annibale Carracci painted the Martyrdom of St. Stephen in oil on copper in Italy. The painting depicts the stoning of St. Stephen, a Christian martyr, outside a fortified city. Carracci was part of a movement that sought to reform painting by returning to classical ideals and emphasizing naturalism. You see this in the classical architecture of the city, and in the realistic depiction of the figures. The work was made after the Council of Trent. The Catholic Church convened this meeting to formulate a response to the Protestant Reformation. The Council urged artists to create clear, emotionally engaging images that would reinforce Catholic doctrine. The painting's focus on the suffering of St. Stephen and his ascent to heaven is in line with this. To understand this work more fully, we can examine religious texts and historical accounts of the period. By looking at social and institutional contexts, we gain a deeper understanding of the image's power.