Manuscript Illumination with the Martyrdom of Saint Stephen in an Initial E, from a Gradual
ca. 1394–1402
Medium
Tempera, gold, and ink on parchment
Dimensions
Overall: 7 1/2 x 6 15/16 in. (19 x 17.6 cm) Mat size: 19 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (48.9 x 36.2 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts and Illuminations
Culture
Italian
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Gift of George Blumenthal, by exchange, Elaine Rosenberg and Austin B. Chinn Gifts, and Bequest of Fannie F. Einstein, in memory of Emanuel Einstein, by exchange, 2007
Accession Number
2007.236
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite manuscript illumination, created by the renowned Bolognese artist Niccolò di Giacomo around 1394–1402, captures the martyrdom of Saint Stephen within a large initial “E.” As part of a gradual—a choir book containing chants for the Mass—it once guided worshippers through sacred song in a medieval Italian church or monastery. Niccolò, celebrated for his dynamic narrative style, worked during the late Gothic period, blending intricate detail with expressive figures that brought biblical stories vividly to life on the page. Executed in tempera, gold, and ink on parchment, the piece...