c. 1375 – c. 1438
Stefano da Verona was one of the most significant exponents of the International Gothic style in northern Italy. Active primarily between 1425 and 1438 in Verona, he produced remarkable frescoes and panel paintings that exhibit his refined and elegant artistic vision. Though many of his works have suffered deterioration over time, some notable pieces remain, offering insight into his distinctive style and influence.
Among his surviving works are frescoes in poor condition, including Madonna and Child with Saint Christopher and Angels, now housed in the Museo di Castelvecchio in Verona, as well as Saint Augustine Enthroned and Saint Euphemia. One of his most celebrated pieces, The Adoration of the Magi (1435), is preserved in the Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan.
Stefano da Verona’s origins and artistic training remain subjects of scholarly debate. Some historical documents suggest that he was of French descent, possibly the son of Giovanni de Herbosio, who might have been the painter Jean d’Arbois—an artist active at the court of the Duke of Burgundy and later in Pavia. Records also document painters named Stefano di Giovanni working in Mantua (1394–97), Treviso (1396–1421), and Trentino (1433–38), further complicating the study of his artistic lineage.
Scholars have drawn comparisons between Stefano da Verona’s style and various artistic traditions, linking his work to South German painting, Franco-Burgundian influences, and particularly the Lombard school, including artists such as Michelino da Besozzo. His oeuvre has undergone significant re-evaluation over time, with attributions shifting and evolving as new research emerges.
Despite uncertainties regarding his complete body of work, several key pieces remain attributed to Stefano da Verona. These include the Madonna and Child from the Colonna Collection in Rome and fresco fragments in the Church of San Fermo in Verona. Additionally, he is known for a series of exquisite drawings, characterized by their refined elegance and evocative detail. These works are housed in prestigious collections, including the Gabinetti dei Disegni e delle Stampe in Florence, Milan, London, Vienna, and Dresden.
However, some paintings once ascribed to Stefano have since been excluded from his official catalog, such as the Madonna Enthroned with Child (Rome, Museo di Palazzo Venezia). Another debated attribution is the Madonna of the Rose Garden (Verona, Museo di Castelvecchio), which some scholars continue to discuss.
