Stories from the Life of St. Matthew (1600-1602 Caravaggio), art
Stories from the Life of St. Matthew (1600-1602) is a cycle of paintings by Caravaggio.
Abstract
The Life of St. Matthew is illustrated in three episodes:
- 1. Calling of St.Matthew (1600)
- 2. Martyrdom of St. Matthew (1600) - Oil on canvas, 323 cm × 343 cm (127 in × 135 in)
- 3. Inspiration of St. Matthew (1602)
[NOTE: The original version of the Inspiration of St. Matthew (known as St. Matthew and the Angel, 1602) was rejected and the Author had to replace it with the current painting]
History and current location
Caravaggio painted the three stories from the life of Matthew to decorate the Contarelli Chapel in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome [Italy], where they are still located. The original version of the Inspiration of St. Matthew was purchased by Vincenzo Giustiniani for his private collection and eventually ended in Berlin [Germany] at the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, where it was destroyed in 1945 in the last days of the Second World War.