Who painted The Burial of Saint Stephen?

The Burial of Saint Stephen was painted by Juan de Juanes in 1550-01-01.

Where can I see The Burial of Saint Stephen?

The Burial of Saint Stephen is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Burial of Saint Stephen?

The Burial of Saint Stephen is associated with Mannerism.

The Burial of Saint Stephen by Juan de Juanes (1550)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

It belongs to the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, having been acquired by King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

The Burial of Saint Stephen depicts the martyrdom of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as he is lowered into a tomb while mourners gather around his shrouded body. The composition emphasizes themes of sacrifice and divine witness through the arrangement of figures and the presence of a heavenly light illuminating Stephen's figure. Symbolic elements include the stones of his stoning at the tomb's edge and the open Bible at his side, underscoring his role as a proto-martyr in Christian theology. The work reflects Counter-Reformation ideals of solemnity and didactic clarity in religious art.

The painting is executed in oil on panel and measures 160 cm in height by 123 cm in width.

It belongs to the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, having been acquired by King Ferdinand VII of Spain.

Technique & Style

The Burial of Saint Stephen is an oil painting executed on a panel support by Juan de Juanes, created around 1550. The work measures 160 cm in height and 123 cm in width. Classified as religious art, the piece depicts Saint Stephen alongside a coat of arms. The handling of the medium reflects the artist's approach to religious subjects during the mid-16th century.

History & Provenance

The Burial of Saint Stephen by Juan de Juanes is dated to 1550, aligning with the artist’s mature period and the documented inception year in institutional records.

The painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains housed in the Royal Palace of Madrid. Historical records attribute its prior ownership to Ferdinand VII of Spain, indicating the monarch’s stewardship before the work’s eventual transfer to the national museum.

The Burial of Saint Stephen is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The painting is located within the Royal Palace of Madrid and is attributed to the artist Juan de Juanes. Historical records indicate that the work was once owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain.

The source material does not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece, nor does it list any past or future exhibition history.

Context

Juan de Juanes painted The Burial of Saint Stephen circa 1550, an oil-on-panel work now housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The painting entered the collection of Ferdinand VII of Spain and remains displayed in the Royal Palace of Madrid. Art historians situate it within the Spanish Renaissance, reflecting Counter-Reformation themes through its devotional composition and use of symbolic elements such as Saint Stephen's martyrdom and heraldic motifs.

Its stylistic analysis aligns with Juan de Juanes's broader oeuvre of religious imagery, characterized by naturalistic detail and emotive realism.

Overview

Created circa 1550, The Burial of Saint Stephen is an oil painting by the Valencian artist Juan de Juanes, also known as Vicente Juan Masip. The work belongs to the Renaissance era and exhibits traits of the emerging Mannerist style. It is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.