The Calling of Saint Matthew
Caravaggio
Description
This painting captures the exact moment when Jesus enters a dark room and calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him and become one of his disciples. Matthew is seated at a table with a few other men, counting money or deep in discussion. Jesus, standing at the side with a faint halo, points at Matthew. In response, Matthew seems startled and points to himself, almost as if to say, “Who, me?”
Analysis
Caravaggio uses dramatic lighting to focus the viewer's attention. A beam of light cuts through the dark room and highlights Matthew's surprised face a technique called chiaroscuro, typical of Baroque art. The figures look like real people, not idealized saints, making the scene more relatable. And instead of showing action at its peak, Caravaggio captures the exact moment just before Matthew makes a life-changing choice. That sense of tension, realism, and emotional depth is what defines Baroque painting.
Details
- Date:1599-1600
- Medium:Oil on canvas
- Dimensions:322 cm x 340 cm
- Location:Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome