Saint Stephen 1860

William Rimmer created this sandstone sculpture of Saint Stephen sometime in the mid-19th century. The sculpture depicts the Christian Saint Stephen at the moment of his martyrdom. We can see the agony on his face as he looks up to the heavens, even as he is being stoned to death. Rimmer was interested in the human body and its potential to express emotion. Here, he uses the rough texture of the sandstone to emphasize the brutality of Stephen's death. Made in America at a time when the country was divided over slavery, the image of a man being unjustly persecuted had a particular resonance. Rimmer was active in abolitionist circles, and it is tempting to see the sculpture as a comment on the violence of slavery. By studying the historical context in which art is made, we can gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and relevance. We can look at historical documents from the time it was made to better understand its social and political implications. Art always exists within a specific social and institutional context.