Description
Saint Stephen is one of the most important panel paintings from Giotto's final phase and the best-known work in the Museo Horne in Florence. The saint is shown half-length against a gold ground, with a serene monumentality that focuses attention on his face, richly decorated vestment and the signs of his martyrdom. He wears an ornate dalmatic appropriate to his status as a deacon. Several stones rest on his head, the traditional attribute recalling his death by stoning and making his identity immediately recognizable.
The face displays features characteristic of Giotto's late figures: a narrow mouth, regular nose and elongated eyes. The expression is restrained and solemn, avoiding exaggerated drama while conveying strong psychological presence. The figure fills almost the entire pictorial field and conveys stability and weight.
