The Calling of Saint Matthew

Description

Painting Name: The Calling of St. Matthew
Artist: Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da
Medium: Oil Painting on Canvas
 

The Calling of St. Matthew was painted by the famous baroque painter Caravaggio in 1600. It is a representation of a story from the New Testament where Christ comes to Matthew to call him to the path of God and become his disciple. This is a subject widely represented across western art but Caravaggio’s piece is remembered by people for the unconventional treatment lent to the subject by the artist. Caravaggio is a controversial painter since his style deviated liberally from the painters of High Renaissance. Caravaggio was not interested in painting humans looking like the epitome of beauty, his ideas of representation was very different. No matter the subject, Caravaggio paintings have a sombre air about them which is why this kind of art is for those who prefer moodier pieces rather than just something that looks pretty on a wall.

The light and the dark

Caravaggio is known for the ‘sfumato’ effect which really means creating dark shadows and areas of light in the painting. Shadows in Caravaggio paintings are painted prominently with dark colours and in his later works the inky blackness seems to be taking over the whole canvas. In The Calling of St. Matthew, Christ is standing outside and beckoning Matthews as he sits with his other gambler friends around a table. There is much drama in the painting which again is subdued. The light coming from the window Christ has just opened falls on the dazed faces of the group. There is only the slightest hint of a halo on Christ as he stands almost engulfed by the shadows. The representation of the figure of Christ is also unconventional since he looks like any ordinary man. The light focuses as if on Levi or St. Matthews who is in shock at the proceedings. Paintings like these are a rarity these days as people are losing the taste for it. Everyone looks for pop of colours but the value of such dramatic paintings is too much for words. These paintings therefore suit only the best parlours or study rooms. Churches and old hotels often put such paintings on wallpapered and carpeted rooms. It is a rich painting with the paints and broad brush strokes. Paintings like these can be enjoyed in print as well. Just the presence of such a biblical painting lifts the dignity of a place. There should be made provisions for a light below the painting so that it can show even during evenings and nights.

Iconography

Despite being unconventional, Caravaggio never muddled up the iconography of religious paintings. The languorous finger of Christ stands for the call to the divine, to the path of enlightenment. Those who are doomed fail to lift up their heads and the figure closest to us seems to be almost tumbling off his stool and into the space of the viewer. Even saint peter has a finger raised halfway which identifies him as the first disciple. The way the light has been shown really makes it seem like it emanates from holy Christ.