The Stoning of Saint Stephen (tapestry)
This tapestry, woven in Brussels after a Raphael cartoon, narrates Acts 7: Stephen, the first Christian martyr, receives a vision of the Son of Man as an agitated crowd pelts him with stones. Raphael’s design anchors the violence in a clear pyramid around the kneeling deacon; gestures, drapery, and flying stones register the rising frenzy. At the edge, a youthful Saul sits with the garments—history about to pivot through the witness he rejects.
Why This Artwork Is Important
- Defines the prototype of Christian martyrdom within Raphael’s tapestry series.
- Masterclass in expressive gesture and narrative clarity rendered in textile.
What to Look For
- Stephen’s upward gaze and deacon’s dalmatic as a calm center.
- Stones frozen mid-flight and straining arms around the perimeter.
- Seated Saul guarding the cloaks—an ominous narrative aside.
- Classical portico and grotesque border stabilizing the turbulent scene.
Fun Fact
Stephen’s dalmatic in art foreshadows the distinctive vestment of deacons in Western liturgy.
Last Minute Offers
Find the cheapest last-minute offers to visit Gallery of Tapestries and see The Stoning of Saint Stephen (tapestry) with your own eyes!
| Date | Tickets | Tours |
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| Buy for €50 | Buy for €92 | |
| Buy for €49 | Buy for €99 | |
| Buy for €100 | Buy for €101 | |
| Buy for €65 | Buy for €92 | |
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| Buy for €89 | Buy for €90 |
