The Calling Of St Matthew: Analyzing Caravaggio's Finest Art
Updated: Feb 17
On the promenade of Rome, you will discover several pulchritudinous artworks that will awe you and let you reflect on your soulfulness. Among all these works, the Chapels of the Churches featured the prominent-fascinating fresco paintings. By talking to the apostles, one feels as if one can convey their prayers to them and receive their blessings for good deeds. One such astonishing painting by a renowned painter is The Calling of St Matthew, which we will evaluate here. Now, I am keeping the welcoming introduction brief as there is a fair amount to discuss in the following sections. You are about to read about one of the most influential paintings of the 17th century by Legendary artist Caravaggio. Before we start, let us quickly read through the table of content.
Who Was Caravaggio?
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was the big enchilada in the World of artists as he abandoned the traditional art rules and embraced a new style, idealizing human and religious experiences, called the Baroque style. Born in Milan, his father was an architect for the Marchese of Caravaggio, and his mother, Lucia from the same district family. After the plague hit badly in Milan, his family moved to Caravaggio in 1576 to escape it. However, after the death of his father and mother in 1577 and 1584, he became an apprentice for four years to a Lombard painter, Simone Peterzano. He remained in the area and became familiar with the works of Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. His first painting was The Fortune Teller, a masterpiece that helped to change Roman art for several years. However, it was sold at quite a low price, so The Cardsharps was his major masterpiece.
There is one more crucial piece of information that you must note about Caravaggio. He never was involved in scandals, romantic affairs, or glamour unlike other artists (except Van Gogh). However, he led an extremely notorious life, famous for brawling and his violent nature. He even had extensive and extended police trials. Although he was a violent man, his artwork inspired many and at one point made him famous in Rome. Now, that you know a bit about the artist, let us move on to the next section.
Meaning Of Caravaggio's The Calling of Saint Matthew.
According to its easiest interpretation, the painting represents a biblical passage. The use of symbolism is here, but I will let you know about it in the formal evaluation. Coming back to the biblical text, it says,
"And when Jesus passed on from hence, he saw a man sitting in the custom-house named Matthew; and he saith to him: follow me. And he rose up and followed him."
The Jewish tax collector Matthew was sometimes also called Levi the toll collector. He was money mad, which is indicated by his hand still on the coins. And he wanted himself out of worldly possessions, so when Jesus called Matthew into his service while Matthew was working at the tax collector's stand at Capernaum, he gave up his worldly possessions and took to the straight and narrow path.
Now let me take you to the next section formally analyzing The Calling of St Matthew.
The Calling Of St Matthew Analysis.
Artist | Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio |
Year Painted | 1599 |
Dimensions | 322.4 cm x 340.4 cm |
Medium | Oil on canvas |
Style | Mannerism |
Movement | Italian Baroque Art |
Genre | Historic Painting |
Price | Priceless, Not on sale |
Where is it housed? | Contarelli Chapel, Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome |
With a heart full of affection, I welcome you to the most intriguing part of the entire article. Remember you need to be careful while studying the formal evaluation, as there are several things to consider.
The Calling of Saint Matthew painting depicts figures in shallow-dark spaces with emphatic horizontals and diagonal beams of light entering the scene. The upper right corners of the entire scene feature beams of light, catching the figures in chiaroscuro patterns. Do not get confused with the typical Italian word, 'Chiaroscuro', as it simply means creating a dramatic effect by contrasts between light and dark. The counterpoise of light and dim is the supreme mover of the scene as it provides a model for the creation of art and illustrates a weighted effect.
Furthermore, there is a large window and prop-like furniture, which is an addition to the naturalistic style of Caravaggio. There is one more point to note the painting exhibits minimal revision. It is important to note that the figure of Peter was added later, as well as Christ's more traditional Italian gestures with a hammered-down palm.
The composition includes Christ and Peter entering a dark setting from the right while Matthew and his company sit around a table on the left quadrant of the canvas. Before we try to study and evaluate the composition subject-vice, let me narrate a few details. The Calling of the Matthew was a milestone in Caravaggio's career as it was his first painting, which showcased the tenebrism characteristic of his mature style and his first historia. In a way, it is a hint of the transition from half-length portraiture to full-figure painting that he made in his career. Now that I have conveyed the entire message here. Let me take you to the evaluation of each subject and element.
The Light Beam.
The light comes from an invisible source, presumably some other window similar to the one above the publican's table. Now it illuminates Matthew's stunned face, and there is a division of light and dark which becomes the occasion for the conversion.
It further senses importance as it gives a symbolic weight in the context of conversion and artistic creation. It first passes through Christ's halo and continues between his hand and the window's central support, and finally rests on Matthew's face.
The Window.
Going back to 1438, Leone Battista Alberti used to see the window as a metaphor for the painted surface in a different context, like this flat window surface and the painted surface gives an illusion of homogeneous and logical space. The window in this painting also relates itself to Renaissance illusionism. Furthermore, it does not directly relate to landscape containment but serves as a notional entity to illustrate representational and economic issues. Also, it separates the two figural groups, distinct by posture and clothing.
Next, it coordinates the painting's primary light source. The beam of focused light enters from the upper right clip to the lower right corner of the window's frame as it rakes with the back wall. All these details are linked to the window and also give us a perfect metaphor: light as a figure for divine grace or vocation.
Caravaggio's The Calling of Saint Matthew also features dramatic light effects and a fierce contrast between light and shadow, defining a revolutionary style.
The Right Part of the Composition.
It shows two figures: Peter and Christ. Peter is in the foreground, while Christ is behind him. This kind of placement is because Caravaggio does not want us to show Jesus, as Peter indicates Church. He works as a messenger of God. They both wear different attire from the left-side men, indicating a cultural difference between the Italians and the Flemish.
The Left Side of the Composition.
The first boy leaned forward and sat on a stool with a fascination for light. His face is blank, just like a pure reaction towards something interesting. He is unperturbed even by Jesus' arrival over the table.
Just on the same line, there is another guy with his head tilted down towards the coins on the table. He is turned away from the beckoning light and sitted at the end of the table. Next to him is the elderly man who works as a calculator. Because the old man is busy counting coins, the boy is unaware of any visitors. His grizzled forbearance suggests that he would not care if he noticed. They both symbolize the two sides of the same coin, as in more interest towards money instead of spiritual wealth.
Next to them, the man pointing towards the tilted head boy is St Matthew, a tax collector. He asked Jesus,
"little ol' me?"
through his pointed finger. Now let us move on to the color analysis of the artwork, which is our final section.
Color Analysis Of The Artwork.
Other than the extreme contrasts between light and dark, it has a formal arrangement of light beams, hands, and windows, typically narrating studio lighting. When there was a discussion on the color analysis of Caravaggio's painting, the critiques referred to even the hues used with their tonality, the effects they create, the deep shadows between them, and their relation to one another. Here the color tends darker, with the light beam symbolizing the arrival of Jesus and glory. There is the texture of different surfaces, cloth, flesh, hair, and even metal pieces with a play of light for flat and curved surfaces with distinct intensities of colors. There are effects showcased in billowing fabrics and feathers by Christ's hand and other surface appearances.
There is unostentatious use of red and black hues commonly. Alongside, the smooth flesh of humans with muscles is also clearly visible. The golden color hair, old vintage furniture, and even the costumes clearly display the naturalistic styles of Carravagio.
Conclusion.
The Calling of St Matthew tells us about one of the stories of the bible and also fetches us a message of victory over greed. The only artists capable of making works like this are Carravagio, Michelangelo, and other Renaissance artists. And indeed, I am mesmerized by them. Tell me, what aspects do you love about it? Meanwhile, I am already on another book for another piece of fantastic article.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Who painted The Calling of St Matthew?
Italian painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio made The Calling of St Matthew in 1599 to depict an instance from the bibliography. The artwork displays extraordinary tenebrism and is the artist's first historia.
What style is The Calling of St Matthew?
Mannerism.
Who is Matthew in The Calling of Saint Matthew?
According to Matthew 9:9–13 (Bible) and the painting, Matthew is a Jewish tax collector, also known as Levi, the toll collector. Saint Matthew is also one of the twelve apostles whose symbol is an angel and is known as the patron saint of tax collectors and accountants in Christianity.
What does The Calling of St Matthew portray?
Caravaggio's The Calling of St Matthew depicts a bibliographic event where Christ appears with Saint Peter and asks Matthew, a tax collector to follow him.