Stories of St. Stephen and St. John the Baptist, Renaissance fresco cycle in Prato Cathedral, Italy.
Stories of St. Stephen and St. John the Baptist is a fresco cycle in the Cappella Maggiore of Prato Cathedral, with many scenes from the lives of these two saints painted across the walls. The frescoes show dramatic moments like the stoning and the feast of Herod with carefully rendered details throughout.
An artist began work on this cycle after 1450, following another painter's refusal of the commission. The project unfolded over more than a decade and shaped the artistic development of the period.
The frescoes tell stories that held deep meaning for the people of Prato, and they still shape how the chapel feels today. The way the saints are shown reflects what people valued about faith and goodness in the 15th century.
The frescoes are located in the main chapel of the cathedral and are easily accessible to visitors from inside. Natural light falls on the works, especially around midday and early afternoon, which makes the painted details clearly visible.
While working on the frescoes, the artist met a woman from the Prato convent. This encounter led him to abandon his monastic life and begin an entirely different chapter of his existence.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
