Manuscript Illumination with the Martyrdom of Saint Stephen in an Initial E, from a Gradual

Art Historical Context

This exquisite manuscript illumination, created by the renowned Bolognese artist Niccolò di Giacomo around 1394–1402, captures the martyrdom of Saint Stephen within a large initial “E.” As part of a gradual—a choir book containing chants for the Mass—it once guided worshippers through sacred song in a medieval Italian church or monastery. Niccolò, celebrated for his dynamic narrative style, worked during the late Gothic period, blending intricate detail with expressive figures that brought biblical stories vividly to life on the page. Executed in tempera, gold, and ink on parchment, the piece highlights the luminous quality of gold leaf, which would have shimmered under candlelight to evoke divine presence. The compact composition, measuring just under eight inches, demonstrates the artist’s skill in fitting dramatic action into a confined space while maintaining clarity for singers reading from a distance. Such illuminations played a vital role in medieval devotion, transforming functional liturgical books into objects of beauty and spiritual instruction. Today, this fragment at the Metropolitan Museum offers a window into the rich artistic traditions of fourteenth-century Bologna and the enduring power of visual storytelling in worship.