Matthew the evangelist
Francesco Vanni captures the intense focus of Saint Matthew in this dynamic Baroque sketch. The evangelist sits draped in heavy, flowing robes, pen poised as if capturing divine dictation. If you look closely at the bottom left, a small angelic face peers out—this is Matthew's traditional symbol, the angel inspiring his gospel. Sketches like this were the 'rough drafts' of the art world, allowing artists to experiment with composition and emotion before tackling a final, massive altarpiece.
- Technique
- black chalk
- Material
- paper