Restored in 1990 with Save Venice general funds.

The art of inlaying marble, agate, lapis, alabaster, and other semiprecious hard stones is called pietra dura. This decorative technique employs stone elements in a broad array of colors — many of which have pronounced patterns or veining as well — to give life and movement to figures and floral motifs.

The technique became popular around the middle of the sixteenth century, and the powerful Medici of Florence were the first to encourage the craft: in 1588, Grand Duke Ferdinand of Tuscany founded the Opificio delle Pietre Dure (workshop of semi-precious stones). By the late seventeenth century, pietra dura had became popular in northern Italy, where it largely replaced the Renaissance preference for inlaid woods, known as intarsia or marquetry.

This altar frontal adorning the high altar of the church of Santo Stefano was created by Benedetto Corberelli, who belonged to a multi-generational family workshop specializing in the art of pietra dura. The frontal’s central scene of the Martyrdom of Saint Stephen is framed by floral motifs with birds, garlands, and strands of beads, continuing the traditional use of naturalistic motifs to enhance representations of religious narrative. The particular kinds of multicolored stones selected for the garments of the figures create visual effects that recall rich ornamentation (that of St. Stephen), as well as movement (that of the figure to his left).

The work was restored by conservators from the Kastalia restoration firm, with the guidance of project director Ettore Merkel of the Superintendency of Fine Arts of Venice.

For select projects, conservation dossiers in Italian containing limited textual and photographic documentation may be available for consultation by appointment at the Venice office of Save Venice and the Rosand Library & Study Center. For inquiries, please contact us at venice@savevenice.org.

Benedetto Corberelli (active c. 1650s-1680)
Martyrdom of Saint Stephen
1656, pietra dura (agate, lapis, alabaster, semiprecious stones)
104 x 340 cm

Chorus Association: Church of Santo Stefano