The High Altar

This depicts St. Stephen, Pope, in glory, surrounded by the symbols of Victory and the Holy Military Religion.

The authors of this work are Pier Francesco Silvani (16201685) and Gian Battista Foggini (1652 1725). This work, much admired in the 18th century, was completed at great expense in 1703.

It is constructed in marble from Luni, jasper from Barga and Sicily and bronze gilt.

The altar contains St. Stephen's reliquaries and a marble Papal throne. There is a gilt bronze Papal chair, with bass reliefs depicting the saint's martytom, above the sarcophagus. The council altar, in front of the High Altar, is decorated on feast days with gold and silk embroidered satin drapes dating from the first half of the 18th century.

The Altars

There are four marble altars placed in the naves. Decotated with white Carrara and yellow Siena marble laurel leaves and ribbons, they are the work of Giovanni Lazzarini (1769 1834). Placed above them are four important paintungs: a) Martirio di Santo Stefano Protomartire (1571)
Oil panel, by Giorgio Vasari (1511 1574).
b) The Altar of the Holy Sacrament Bronze crucifix, said to be the work of P. Tacca. It was a replacement for the silver crucifix designed by Tenerani, almost completely detroyed by lightening on 2 May 1866. c) Birth of the Redeemer ( 1564 1565?)
Oil panel painting by Agniolo di Cosimo known as “il Bronzino”. d) The multiplication of the loaves (about 1595)
Oil panel by Ludovico Buti (1550 1611).

Up until a few years ago the famous bust containing the martyr St. Lussorio's skull, the work in copper gilt of Donatello, could be viewed behind the High Altar. The original is now kept in the San Matteo Museum and in its place is a rather ugly copy.

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