Saint Stephen (1961) Adriaan van der Plas
A bronze sculpture has been placed on the facade of the Sint Stephanusschool in Schiebroek. The bronze facing brick Saint Stephen is approximately 150 cm high and attached to the masonry. The maker is the Rotterdam sculptor Adriaan van der Plas, who specialized in religious art and design. The work shows the patron saint of this school the moment he is stoned. Stephen is considered the first martyr of Christianity. The school board of the school on Asserweg commissioned Van der Plas for this sculpture, which was made in the percentage scheme during the construction of the school in 1961. There is another work of art in the schoolyard, namely Acrobat by Chris Elffers. Due to the demolition of the school building, the artwork was removed in early 2023 and placed in the depot.
Adriaan van der Plas (Rotterdam, 1899 - Kerkrade, 1974) specialized in religious art and design. He studied at the Rotterdam art academy. Van der Plas received a bronze medal for nude figure drawing and he received three Royal Grants. From 1921 to 1923 he made study trips through Europe and then settled permanently in Rotterdam. He drew delicately and with care, made prints and paintings, including murals for De Doelen in 1935, a Way of the Cross in front of St. Bavo in Heemstede. In 1940 he made the mural 'Viribus Unitis' for the Jungerhans family's emergency shop on Mathenesserlaan.