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
Caravaggio was the first artist to give the character of Matthew a life of his own. His work was celebrated, admired and widely imitated for centuries.
The Life of St. Matthew is illustrated in three episodes:
- 1. Calling of St. Matthew (1600)
- 2. 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]
- 3. Martyrdom of St. Matthew (1600) - Oil on canvas, 323 cm × 343 cm (127 in × 135 in)
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 World War II.