A LARGE HISTORIATED VELLUM INITIAL S SHOWING THE STONING ...

      Verona/the Veneto, ca. 1475 150 x 147 mm. (6 x 5 3/4"") in a 14 x 11"" mat. The cutting mounted in a recessed compartment enclosed by a mat the whole within a very pleasing 15 1/8 x 12 1/8 gilt frame. The cutting comprised of a large S in different shades of pink with subtle white tracery the elements of the letter outlined with lush blue and green foliage the initial against a background of burnished gold the lower opening of the S revealing Stephen his hands clasped in prayer blood flowing from his head in which is embedded a stone other bloodied stones at his feet the opening above showing his attackers both about to cast another lithic missile behind them hills topped with castles and a walled city the whole painted in clear bright colors. Two faint horizontal creases (one above the stoning figures one through the top of Stephen's head) loss of paint at very edge and in lower corner in the foliate extension otherwise in very pleasing condition the colors and gold very rich and the three figures extremely well preserved. Saint Stephen the young deacon and the first of Christ's followers to suffer martyrdom is shown here with a bright blond tonsure an elongated face and a suffering resigned expression that gives him great individuality. Stephen had argued that the true temple is the temple of the heart and for this he was stoned the usual punishment for blasphemy. The artist has cleverly entwined the victim and the attackers in the plump initial S. Three towers on improbably steep hills jut up behind the stoners the more youthful of whom has an enormous red hat such as a 15th century wastrel might wear perched on his voluminous pile of hair. His face with its cleft chin snide expression and round rosy cheeks is a contrast to the saintly visage of Stephen. $8500