Advanced Search 
Devout Men Taking the Body of Saint Stephen
Benjamin West (American, 1738–1820)
1776
Medium/Technique
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Height x width (including semi-circle): 224 7/16 x 125 9/16 in. (570 x 319 cm)
Credit Line
Anonymous gift in honor of Malcolm Rogers to celebrate his twenty years of extraordinary leadership as Director of the MFA, Boston
Accession Number2015.2163
CollectionsAmericas
ClassificationsPaintings
Catalogue Raisonné
Staley no. 388 (p. 380-81)
DescriptionThe painting shows the aftermath of the stoning of Saint Stephen, a subject inspired by the Book of Acts (8:2; ESV): "Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him."
Signed
Lower Left: B. West 1776
Provenance1776, commissioned by Reverend Thomas Wilson (b. 1703 – d. 1784), Rector of the Church of St. Stephen Walbrook, London, and given to the church for installation over the altar on the east wall; by 1848, removed from the east wall and re-installed on the north wall of the church; 1987, removed from the church and placed into storage; November 29, 2001, consigned for sale by the wardens of St. Stephen Walbrook, Sotheby’s, London, lot 176, withdrawn; 2014, sold by the wardens of St. Stephen Walbrook, through Ben Elwes Fine Art, Ltd., London, to an anonymous American collection [see note]; 2015, anonymous gift to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 24, 2015)
NOTE:
On July 10, 2013, the Consistory Court of the Diocese of London granted the church of St. Stephen Walbrook faculty permission to dispose of the Benjamin West painting by sale. The Arts Council of England subsequently granted an export license for the work on March 19, 2014, at which time it was sold to a private American collection.
NOTE:
On July 10, 2013, the Consistory Court of the Diocese of London granted the church of St. Stephen Walbrook faculty permission to dispose of the Benjamin West painting by sale. The Arts Council of England subsequently granted an export license for the work on March 19, 2014, at which time it was sold to a private American collection.