Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

The Calling of Saint Matthew, 1599–1600, Oil on canvas, 22 x 340 cm, Contarelli Chapel, San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome; Photo: Scala / Art Resource, NY

A Bringing to Light

Commentary by David Hoyle, MBE and Beth Williamson

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Read by Ben Quash

Uncertainties abound here. It is not immediately clear which of the figures around the table is Matthew. However, the appearance of the saint in two companion works in the same chapel (The Inspiration of Saint Matthew and The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew) suggests that Matthew is the bearded figure in the Calling.

Matthew is himself not clear who is being called, as indicated by his quizzical expression, and his own ambiguous pointing gesture. Light streams in and illuminates his face, but not through the window that is visible. It comes from an unseen source above the figure of Christ, who stands to the right, partially obscured behind St Peter (the figure with his back to the viewer).

The upper edge of the shaft of light ends at the head of the youth in red and yellow, and makes us wonder for a moment who is being picked out. Christ’s indeterminate pointing gesture adds to this uncertainty.

It has often been remarked that Christ’s gesture echoes the hand of Adam in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam in the Sistine Chapel. It is difficult to say whether this visual quotation is iconographically or theologically significant. It may be that Caravaggio is simply making a reference to another well-known painting that would have been known by the Roman ecclesiastical elites, including the Contarelli Chapel’s patron, Cardinal Matthieu (i.e. ‘Matthew’) Cointerel (thus the chapel’s dedication).

In this Roman context, Peter’s position between the viewer and Christ is likely to suggest his role as the archetypal apostle. Here, as in his ordained role as leader of the Church on earth, he mirrors Christ, and helps us to see and understand his purposes.

The gestures and gazes here communicate a more vivid question, with a less certain answer, than we see in many other treatments of the theme. Smart clothes in rich fabrics, coins, a velvet hat with a brooch, all indicate that a lot must be given up if this call is to be heeded. Indeed, Matthew’s martyrdom, depicted on the facing wall of the chapel, tells us that it cost him everything.

But at this point the outcome is not certain. At the heart of this painting is uncertainty and strong contrast: contrasts of dress, of darkness and light, of belonging and identity. There are two possible outcomes. The stress falls on the choice Matthew must make and on the mystery of divine action.

 

References

Gilbert, Creighton. 1995. Caravaggio and His Two Cardinals (University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State Press)

Pericolo, Lorenzo. 2011. Caravaggio and Pictorial Narrative (London: Harvey Miller Publishers)

Puglisi, Catherine. 1998. Caravaggio (London: Phaidon)

See full exhibition for Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–28

Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–17; Luke 5:27–28

Revised Standard Version

Matthew 9

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

10 And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2

13 He went out again beside the sea; and all the crowd gathered about him, and he taught them. 14And as he passed on, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

15 And as he sat at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were sitting with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. 16And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 5

27 After this he went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28And he left everything, and rose and followed him.

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