Blood streams down the face of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as he kneels in prayer while executioners in 16th century Renaissance dress hurl rocks at him from either side: vivid early 1500s Troyenne stained glass in the Église Saint-Rémi at Ceffonds, a village in the Champagne region of northeast France.
Ceffonds, Haute-Marne, Grand Est, France: two executioners in 16th century Renaissance costume hurl stones and rocks at Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as he kneels in prayer, blood streaming down his face, in this early-1500s stained glass window in the Église Saint-Rémi at Ceffonds, a village in the Champagne region of northeast France. According to the New Testament Acts of the Apostles, Stephen - Etienne in French - was a deacon in the early church at Jerusalem whose teaching angered members of various synagogues. He was accused of blasphemy and was sentenced to death by stoning after denouncing his Jewish judges. Saul of Tarsus, later known as St Paul the Apostle, participated in Stephen's martyrdom. In this graphic depiction, the executioners wear 16th century dress such as calf length boots, plumed hats, doublets and jerkins, with puff sleeves and breeches slashed to show contrasting fabric. The man on the left hoards stones to throw at Stephen, while his companion wears a broadsword. Panels below the martyrdom scene depict the male donor of the window and his son and the female donor with her daughters. The window was created by the master glassmakers of Troyes, historic capital of the Champagne region, and was one of several installed in the church between 1510 and 1524. It is typical of Troyenne glass of that time - renowned for intense blues, striking reds, vivid emerald greens and saturated chrome yellows. The Ceffonds windows are also typical of Champenoise glass made in the wider region, which survives in churches in the river valleys of the Aube, Marne, Upper Marne and Yonne. Apart from vibrant colours, it can include small narrative scenes and halos with beaded decoration.
Size: 2832px × 4256px
Location: Ceffonds, Haute-Marne, Grand Est, France
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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