Saturday, April 18, 2020

Renaissance Art - Caravaggio’s St. Matthew Trilogy




3 Paintings of Michaelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio ( 1571-1610 ) in the Contarelli Chapel of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome was commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Del Monte ( 1549-1627 ). 

All 3 paintings are hanged at the chapel, Calling and Martyrdom at both side, with Inspiration at the altar.


The Calling of Saint Matthew. 1599-1600, Oil on canvas, 322cm x 340cm
The painting depicts the story from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 9:9): "Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom house, and said to him, "Follow me", and Matthew rose and followed Him." Caravaggio depicts Matthew the tax collector sitting at a table with four other men. Jesus Christ and Saint Peter have entered the room, and Jesus is pointing at Matthew. A beam of light illuminates the faces of the men at the table who are looking at Jesus Christ.



The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, 1599-1600, Oil on canvas, 323cm x 343cm
The painting shows the martyrdom of Saint Matthew the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Matthew. According to tradition, the saint was killed on the orders of the king of Ethiopia while celebrating Mass at the altar. The king lusted after his own niece, and had been rebuked by Matthew, for the girl was a nun, and therefore the bride of Christ. Cardinal Contarelli, who had died several decades earlier, had laid down very explicitly what was to be shown: the saint being murdered by a soldier sent by the wicked king, some suitable architecture, and crowds of onlookers showing appropriate emotion.   The figure in the background, about left-centre and behind the assassin, is a self-portrait by Caravaggio.


The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, 1602, oil on canvas, 292cm x 186cm
In the painting, the angel belongs to an aerial and sublime dimension, enveloped in an encircling rippled sheet. The restless Matthew leans to work, as the angel enumerates for him the work to come. All is darkness but for the two large figures. Matthew appears to have rushed to his desk, his stool teetering into our space. His expression is sober.



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