Caravaggio’s “Calling of St. Matthew” (1599) depicts Matthew 9:9. Caravaggio depicts Matthew the tax collector sitting at a custom-house table with four other men. Jesus and Saint Peter have entered the room, and Jesus is pointing at Matthew - inspiring him to follow him. A beam of light illuminates the faces of the men at the table who are looking at Christ, who is painted with the least detail.
This painting is a transitional period - between the exaggerated idealization of Mannerism (eg, the large head/hands and muscularity of Michaelangelo’s David) period of the 16th century toward Baroque. However, the style is more naturalistic and hadn’t yet adopted the high-energy, high-contrast vibrancy that the Catholic Church commissioned to contrast against Protestant simplicity (eg, Dutch masters).
The painting is currently located in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.
DBD 05-27-2022: Matthew
Caravaggio’s “Calling of St. Matthew” (1599) depicts Matthew 9:9. Caravaggio depicts Matthew the tax collector sitting at a custom-house table with four other men. Jesus and Saint Peter have entered the room, and Jesus is pointing at Matthew - inspiring him to follow him. A beam of light illuminates the faces of the men at the table who are looking at Christ, who is painted with the least detail.
This painting is a transitional period - between the exaggerated idealization of Mannerism (eg, the large head/hands and muscularity of Michaelangelo’s David) period of the 16th century toward Baroque. However, the style is more naturalistic and hadn’t yet adopted the high-energy, high-contrast vibrancy that the Catholic Church commissioned to contrast against Protestant simplicity (eg, Dutch masters).
The painting is currently located in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.
Create your profile
Only paid subscribers can comment on this post
Check your email
For your security, we need to re-authenticate you.
Click the link we sent to , or click here to sign in.