Graflegging van Stefanus 1643 - 1646

This engraving, titled "Graflegging van Stefanus," or "The Burial of St. Stephen," is an anonymous work held at the Rijksmuseum. Here, Stephen is taken down, his body limp after being stoned to death for his Christian beliefs. It's a scene charged with the politics of imagery, especially during a time of religious upheaval. The classical architecture surrounding the figures isn't just decorative; it invokes the power structures of the Roman Empire, which was responsible for Stephen's death. This was made in the Netherlands during the period of the Dutch Revolt, where the people were fighting for religious freedom from the Spanish Empire. Was the artist critiquing contemporary institutions of power? Did the artist intend for it to be shown in a religious institution? As historians, we must examine these works in the context of such social, cultural and institutional events. By engaging with resources from the period, we can discover new perspectives on artworks like this.