Steniging van de Heilige Stefanus 1739 - 1765

Curator: Here we have Ernst Ludwig Creite's "Stoning of Saint Stephen," an engraving likely completed between 1739 and 1765. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the dynamism. It's a flurry of limbs and rocks, rendered in a very dramatic high Baroque style, with that stark contrast creating a lot of visual intensity. Curator: Exactly. Creite captures the moment of Stephen's martyrdom as recounted in the Acts of the Apostles. The composition emphasizes both earthly violence and heavenly grace. Editor: I see the divine presence indicated by the cluster of figures hovering in the upper section of the image, the almost ethereal radiance breaking into the darker tones that define the scene’s brutal textures. It's as if the image space has two registers: the earthly struggle below against the promise of divine serenity. Curator: Absolutely, and look how the crowd's emotions are captured through expressive gestures and faces. We read hatred, zealotry, and even sorrow among the figures, embodying a deep ideological conflict that such acts embody in any time. Consider what those symbolic implications represented at a moment when the dominant paradigms of faith began to suffer erosion and challenges. Editor: I'm also fascinated by how Creite uses the engraving technique itself to heighten the sense of chaos and energy. The fine, densely packed lines create texture—the rough stones, the flowing robes, the strained muscles of the executioners. There's almost a frenetic quality to the line work, especially in comparison to the rather clean image of the holy figures. Curator: A masterful depiction meant to leave no room for apathy toward that ideological battle represented here. The engraving echoes cultural memories around persecution and divine salvation; the symbolic gesture encapsulates ideas of righteousness and intolerance that extend far beyond its literal depiction. Editor: Ultimately, the work’s power comes from the fusion of Baroque drama and careful artistry. By manipulating line, tone, and composition so adeptly, Creite compels us to reflect on faith, violence, and the human condition itself. Curator: Indeed. It’s a testament to how a historical event, meticulously rendered through symbolism, carries resonating weight that shifts and adjusts with the perspectives of diverse observers.