The Calling of Saint Matthew, painted by Caravaggio between 1599 and 1600 for the Contarelli Chapel in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, is a masterpiece of the Italian Baroque. The work portrays the moment when Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him. The scene is set in a dark interior, lit by a ray of natural light entering from the side, a symbol of the divine grace that transforms Matthew's life.
The light brings out the realistic details of the figures and their expressions of surprise and contemplation, creating a dramatic contrast of chiaroscuro and emotional intensity. Caravaggio breaks with idealised tradition, choosing ordinary figures and making the scene close and immediate. The work is a perfect example of the painter's mastery in combining realism, theatricality and spiritual symbolism, and it profoundly influenced 17th-century art.
Unique quality material
Print on handmade Amalfi paper Sheet size: 29 x 42 cm (11.4 x 16.5 in) With frame: 31 x 44 cm (12.2 x 17.3 in) Material: artwork printed on very fine handmade Amalfi paper with deckled edges Frame: light brown beech wood and wood pulp, handmade
How an Amalfi art print is made, what the frame is like, what museum glass is, how long shipping takes, and how returns work: we’ve gathered all the answers on a single page.
