[SunkenCiv]

Close-up detail of the hand-axe like object in Jean Fouquet's "Étienne Chevalier with Saint Stephen," left panel of "The Melun Diptych" (circa 1455) by Jean Fouquet.

Credit: Sailko, CC BY 3.0.

[Big Red Badger]

The Lions Gate in the Old City of
Jerusalem where Stephen was stoned with
Paul watching is a sobering spot.

[moovova]

I watched a YouTube video of a guy that had just purchased a big chunk of blue glass. When all was said and done, he used rock & bone "tools" to chip off multiple large pieces (he would eventually use for arrowheads), and ultimately "carving" out a beautiful blue glass spearhead. Yes, it was artwork (and beautiful), but it looked like it could've been excavated from an archeological site.

[Beowulf9]

So what did they think at the time of the meaning of the painting? Why would there be a rock on top of the book as if it is a sacred object? What did they think it was?