The funeral of St. Stephen
The bottom scene (painted in 1465) shows the Funeral after the discovery of the body of St. Stephen, and is placed inside an early Christian basilica, in a setting that is profound and vibrant; this space is occupied, however, only in the front section, by two compact groups of characters who leave room in the center for the bier with the body of the saint on a rich oriental carpet.

In the group on the right the scarlet vestments of Pope Pius II stand out, and behind him stands the pastor Carlo de' Medici (son of Cosimo the Elder and a Circassian slave), flanked by two friars: the older ( view images) one on the end is probably a self-portrait of Lippi, the other could be Fra Diamante. On the right, extending into the church, is the scene of the Stoning, which continues onto the back wall, with extensive contributions of collaborators. At the sides of the window two painted niches hold the figures of Saints Giovanni Gualberto and Alberto, founders of the Vallombrosa orders – to which Fra Diamante had transferred in 1460 – and the Carmelites – to which Lippi still belonged.back >

<< The Stories of Saint Stephen