The Stoning of St Stephen 1604

"The Stoning of St Stephen" (1604) by Annibale Carracci depicts the biblical story of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, being stoned to death. The scene is set in a courtyard, with the central figure of Stephen kneeling in prayer as a mob throws rocks at him. An angel appears in the sky above, representing Stephen's faith and the divine intervention in his suffering. This work is considered a masterpiece of Baroque painting, demonstrating Carracci's mastery of composition, anatomy, and expressive detail. The painting is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.