Sacred Embroidery On Silk With Period Frame. Italy, 18th Century.

Rare and precious religious embroidery depicting the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the first Christian protomartyr, according to the Acts of the Apostles. The work, made with colored silk threads on textile backing, features a lively and theatrical composition with a clear Baroque inspiration, rich in narrative and scenographic elements. As was customary at the time, the faces and figures are enhanced with hand-painted watercolored prints. The soldiers’ armors are decorated with embossed silver leaf, indicating a high level of craftsmanship and commission.

At the center of the scene, the young saint, wrapped in a Franciscan robe, lies on the ground with his face turned to the sky, while he is being stoned by a group of energetic figures dressed in 17th-century fashion. Above, amidst the clouds, appears a vision of Christ with the Cross, surrounded by angelic hosts welcoming the martyr’s soul — an image that heightens the emotional and chromatic tension of the scene.

The plasticity of the figures is remarkable, achieved through finely layered embroidery stitches, with realistic details in the drapery, facial expressions, and accessories (headdresses, armor, weapons). The border is enclosed in a beautiful veneered and gilded antique wooden frame, contemporary to the artwork.

A devotional and collectible masterpiece, this embroidery is a rare example of 18th-century European sacred textile art, notable for its subject and exceptional technique.

Condition: very good, consistent with age. Minor signs of wear, especially in the hand-painted areas, as shown in the photos.