The Martyrdrom of Saint Stephen, kneeling at center while persecutors throw stones at him, three angels holding a laurel wreath overhead, and Christ and God the Father in the clouds at upper left
ca. 1756–68
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 19 13/16 × 12 15/16 in. (50.3 × 32.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.7118
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the dramatic engraving *The Martyrdom of Stephen*, visitors witness a pivotal biblical scene from the Acts of the Apostles, depicting the first Christian martyr kneeling at the center as persecutors hurl stones. Overhead, three angels proffer a laurel wreath symbolizing heavenly triumph, while Christ and the Father appear in radiant clouds at upper left, offering divine witness. This composition draws from a design by Peter Paul Rubens, eminent Flemish Baroque master known for his exuberant, theatrical style, though the print was executed by engraver Philipp Joseph Tassaert around 1756–68—over a century after Rubens' death in 1640. Tassaert's skilled engraving faithfully captures Rubens' dynamic energy, with swirling figures, dramatic foreshortening, and emotional intensity that evoke the Baroque emphasis on movement and religious fervor. As a reproductive print, it played a key role in 18th-century Europe, making grand paintings accessible to a wider audience through affordable dissemination. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this 19⅞ × 12⅞-inch sheet (trimmed) exemplifies how engravings preserved and popularized Counter-Reformation iconography, inspiring devotion amid turbulent times. A testament to artistic collaboration across generations, it invites reflection on faith, sacrifice, and eternal glory.
About the Artist
Peter Paul Rubens|Phillip Joseph Tassaert · 1577–1640
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) stands as the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque tradition and the greatest exponent of Baroque painting's dynamism, vitality, and sensuous exuberance. Born in Siegen, Westphalia, and raised in Antwerp, Rubens received a humanist education studying Latin and classical literature before pursuing artistic training under three masters: Tobias Verhaecht, Adam ...