Saint Matthew and the angel
circa 1602
Caravaggio's dramatic Baroque masterpiece captures Saint Matthew looking utterly bewildered as a youthful angel floats down from the heavens to guide his writing. The saint, draped in a vibrant red robe with his dirty, bare feet sticking out, looks less like a holy figure and more like a common laborer—a shocking choice for the time that got the painting rejected by the church! The intense contrast between the dark background and the brightly lit figures showcases Caravaggio's signature chiaroscuro technique, making the scene feel like a spotlight on a theatrical stage.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome
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