Stoning of Saint Stephen n.d.

Raymond de Lafage created this pen and brown ink drawing depicting the Stoning of Saint Stephen. The central scene shows a cluster of figures actively participating in the stoning. Stephen lies prostrate in the foreground, a stark image of martyrdom. Note the pyramid in the background: this seemingly strange element, placed in the Holy Land, is a symbol of a power and a tradition that predates the rise of Christianity. It is a nod to classical antiquity, frequently employed in Renaissance and Baroque art to lend a sense of timeless grandeur. Consider how the act of stoning itself—a brutal, visceral expression of communal rage—echoes across time. We see similar scenes of collective violence in ancient Roman depictions of sacrifice, or even in modern-day political demonstrations turned riotous. This primal urge for communal punishment remains embedded in our collective psyche, resurfacing in various forms throughout history. The psychological power lies in its capacity to evoke intense emotions, reminding us of the delicate balance between order and chaos, civilization and barbarity.