Caravaggio - Saint Matthew and the Angel 1602
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Saint Matthew and the Angel 1602
295x195cm oil/canvas
It was destroyed in 1945 and is now known only from
black-and-white photographs and enhanced color reproductions.
The image is only being used for informational and educational purposes
<< Previous G a l l e r y Next >>
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Caravaggio was known for painting very realistically, using models instead of standard convention and idealization. He made his figures lifelike and relatable, as opposed to portraying unrealistic or phony poses. In this instance, however, the patrons wanted an idealization of the beloved Saint, someone who its viewers could admire and strain to be like. They did not want a bumbling peasant who looked as if he just walked in off the street. With the angel sweeping down and the Saint’s stool teetering in movement, it is arguably one of Caravaggio’s earliest examples of his dynamic style. It was a much more exciting composition than the first. Even though Caravaggio changed the composition to suit the desires of the patron, you can still see his own style under the more refined subject of Saint Matthew.