Tallinn Trip – Kadriorg Art Museum (The Martyrdom of St. Stephen)

More art commentary, not that I know what I’m talking about, but I do like a bit of old religious art. I don’t really fully comprehend why people used to like this imagery, you’re got the thoughtful St. Stephen being martyred here in some form of biblical game of dodgeball but with rocks being used as projectiles. And the angel has arrived a bit late in proceedings to be of much use here, a bit like some buses that I’ve tried to catch. But, I digress once again. There are a lot of rocks everywhere, but I suppose when you want to do some throwing it’s always handy to have them available.

St. Stephen was the first martyr in Christianity, that’s quite a claim to fame. Many others followed in his somewhat rocky footsteps, but it’s a hefty price to pay for beliefs at what was quite early on in the whole religious movement. The artwork was painted in the studio of Annibale Carracci (1560-1609) and I have no idea whether it was for a church or a private household, but I can’t imagine it came cheap. It’s not that I dislike the artwork or the style, it’s just that I can’t see myself being cheered up by this stoning.

On a different matter, he perhaps watches from his celestial perch with bemused amusement as the denizens of Norwich queue up for their steak bakes and sausage rolls, blissfully unaware of the saintly connection in the Greggs that lies on St. Stephen’s Street which is effectively named after him. I’d like a street named after me with a Greggs on I think. Right, I really am digressing now and perhaps regressing if I’m being honest at this rate.