Artist: Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi)
Style: Baroque
Technique: Oil
Discover the Masterpiece at San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome
The Inspiration of Saint Matthew is a captivating painting by the Italian Baroque master Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi. Commissioned by the French Cardinal Matteo Contarelli, this canvas graces the altar in the Contarelli chapel of the church of the French congregation San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, Italy.
A Tale of Three Paintings
This masterpiece is one of three Caravaggio canvases in the chapel, hanging between the larger earlier canvases of The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, and The Calling of Saint Matthew. The commission was not an easy task for Caravaggio, as at least two of the three paintings had to be replaced or repainted to satisfy his patron, Cardinal Del Monte.
Creation and Description
In February 1602, following the installation of his first two pieces in the chapel, Caravaggio was contracted to create an altarpiece, to be delivered by Pentecost of that year. The first painting he created, Saint Matthew and the Angel, was rejected and later destroyed in World War II. The Inspiration of Saint Matthew was finished rather quickly, with Caravaggio receiving payment by September 1602. In this work, the angel belongs to an aerial and sublime dimension, enveloped in an encircling rippled sheet. The restless Matthew leans to work, as the angel enumerates for him the work to come. All is darkness but for the two large figures.
A Must-See Masterpiece
- Visit San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome and marvel at this stunning painting, along with other masterpieces by Caravaggio.
- Explore our collection of handmade oil paintings reproductions and print on canvas of famous artworks, including The Inspiration of Saint Matthew.
Further Reading and Resources
For more information about this painting, check out these resources:
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