St Stephen thumbnail 1
St Stephen thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 50b, The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery

St Stephen

Figure
1500-1520 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Benedetto Buglioni is said to have learned the art of enamelled terracotta from a woman employed in Andrea della Robbia's house. He appears to have worked in Florence at the same time as Andrea, but the products of his workshop are considered both technically and artistically inferior.

Saint Stephen's life is described in the Acts of the Apostles. He is one of the earliest deacons. He was accused of speaking blasphemous words against the God of Moses and was taken in front of the Sanhedrin. His accusers expelled him from the city and stoned him. He is the earliest Christian martyr.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSt Stephen (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Enamelled terracotta
Brief description
Partially enamelled terracotta statuette of St. Stephens. From the workshop of Benedetto Buglioni, Florentine, late 15th or early 16ht century
Physical description
Statuette in polychrome enamelled terracotta, the head and hands left unglazed. He stands, holding book and palm, in a long blue dalmatic, with stones on his shoulder and head; on a grey base
Dimensions
  • Height: 88.2cm
  • Width: 34cm
  • Depth: 30cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Gallery label
2414-1856 St Stephen Terracotta, partially enamelled Workshop of Benedetto Buglioni (1459/60-1521) Florentine; late 15th or early 16th century Benedetto Buglioni is said to have learned the art of enamelled terracotta from a woman employed in Andrea della Robbia's house. He appears to have worked in Florence at the same time as Andrea, but the products of his workshop are considered both technically and artistically inferior. The saint is shown with his attribute, the rocks with which he was stoned, and holding a martyr's palm. A companion piece of St Anthony the Abbot is displayed nearby.(2004)
Historical context
Benedetto Buglioni is said to have learned the art of enamelled terracotta from a woman employed in Andrea della Robbia's house. He appears to have worked in Florence at the same time as Andrea, but the products of his workshop are considered both technically and artistically inferior.
Subject depicted
Summary
Benedetto Buglioni is said to have learned the art of enamelled terracotta from a woman employed in Andrea della Robbia's house. He appears to have worked in Florence at the same time as Andrea, but the products of his workshop are considered both technically and artistically inferior.

Saint Stephen's life is described in the Acts of the Apostles. He is one of the earliest deacons. He was accused of speaking blasphemous words against the God of Moses and was taken in front of the Sanhedrin. His accusers expelled him from the city and stoned him. He is the earliest Christian martyr.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1856. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 12.
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 80.
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text. Eighth to Fifteenth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 248.
Collection
Accession number
2414-1856

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Record createdMarch 27, 2006
Record URL
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