by karie anne
Member since:
September 14, 2007

Caravaggio's "The Calling of St. Matthew"

March 14, 2008 03:46 PM UTC (Updated: February 13, 2009 10:27 AM UTC)
views: 0 | comments: 24
One of my favorite paintings in the world is Caravaggio's The Calling of St. Matthew.  Now located in San Luigi dei Francesi near the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, this and two other Caravaggios hang, free and open to the puplic to view.  Clustered in a far corner, when I saw them, the only sound was the occasional coin being dropped into the box to activate the light.  A hushed awe.

Caravaggio was a bit of a rake.  Born in 1571 in Milan, he was a brawler, a gambler, constantly in trouble with the law, the church, and just in general.  He supposedly killed a young man in 1606 and fled to Rome.  By 1610 he was dead at the age of 38.

Master of the used of chiaroscuro,light and shadow, his paintings resonate with a luinosity and drama that I love.  His work also shows naturalism, which was radical at the time.



Comments: 24

Paul M. Mar 14, 2008, 3:55pm UTC
You have to love those rakes.
Haim Kadman Mar 14, 2008, 4:17pm UTC
To me the history of art at that era of renaissance and late renaissance, which Caravaggio represents is very intriguing. It was a turbulent era of wars in divided Italy, that sometimes we might wonder how the those great masters managed to survive and create. Thanks karie anne for a wonderful article, I've learned much.
Thomas Millington Mar 14, 2008, 4:26pm UTC
Interesting.
sheila ~the hapless housewife~ j. Mar 14, 2008, 4:28pm UTC
Thanks for posting this. I don't know much about the famous artists, and enjoy any chance to learn about them.
John S. (arizona) Mar 14, 2008, 4:54pm UTC
I remember this painting from an art class of some kind in college, oh so long ago. We studied quite a few of the "Masters".... ;-) Thanks.
John F Walter Mar 14, 2008, 5:03pm UTC
Thanks, Karie. I´ve been to Rome twice, including the trip to Florence and Bologna last summer, but I´ve never stepped into this particular church, San Luigi, nor seen this particular Caravaggio (or I saw it but it did not stand out for me, since I own a couple an art book of Caravaggio´s work that is in my library in storage in Los Angeles.
I enjoyed seeing the canvas, even in a low resolution JPG format on the wikipedia web page your link directed me to. The composition is quite dramatic, and made me recall the Derek Jarman film ¨Caravaggio¨(1986) which made extraordinary use of cinematic effects with time lapse and actors standing still to show how Caravaggio managed to stage his remarkable scenarios as ¨living scenes.¨

Thank you for this excellent article, my dear. It was incisive, informative, witty and lucid as a mini essay can be.
Peter Wimsey Mar 14, 2008, 5:36pm UTC
This is a great article, Karie.

There is very little discussion of great art on gather.

Thanks for posting this.
Roy ☯ Hilbinger Mar 14, 2008, 5:45pm UTC
Nice, Karie. I like all the pointing fingers, as if everybody's saying "you want HIM????" LOL!!! I love how Caravaggio always used everyday people as his models; his paintings always seem to be peopled by Roman thugs! That's why my own favorite Caravaggio is The Supper at Emmaus. It's the moment when his traveling companions finally get it that it's Jesus they're eating with, and the shock of the discovery is THE dramatic dynamic of the painting, with the outthrust hands and shocked faces. It really doesn't get any better than this!
Vivian P. Mar 14, 2008, 5:59pm UTC
I love the play of shadows and the almost warm colors But what I love most about the great works of art is the feeling I get while looking at it weather it be amazment or bewilderment, or even a sense of belonging that is how I judge my favorites
lynn a. Mar 14, 2008, 6:16pm UTC
I do like Caravaggio's style of painting. We have one book with several in it and there is a clarity that really appeals to me. I WAS a sucker for Lord Byron as a teenager, and don't know why now, except he mesmerized me with his words. You are not alone. Back then so many of them wanted to be the saint portrayed or the Babe or the Christ, it's refreshing Caravaggio would be the doomed. Maybe he was honest about himself this way.
J. B. Mar 14, 2008, 9:30pm UTC
Caravaggio has long been one of my all time favorite painters. I dont think he gets enough attention. I think its wonderful that you featured his work here.
Peter Wimsey Mar 14, 2008, 10:51pm UTC
I have to shout out to Brother Roy for his wonderful reminder about "The Supper at Emmaus".

I think that Caravaggio's treatment of this subject may be the best ever done -although I am moved by a sketch that Rembrandt made, also.
Lisa J Mar 14, 2008, 11:43pm UTC
This gave me chills, Karie. Thank you
The truest meaning of my name....
I love your article karie anne....
nice work!!!
DIANE D. Mar 16, 2008, 8:08am UTC
great article
Nyota *Star* Mar 16, 2008, 4:10pm UTC
I remember him from art school. Thanks for the reminder!
Shawn M. Mar 17, 2008, 6:51am UTC
nice
Ron B. Mar 17, 2008, 3:11pm UTC
Very nice.
Teresa L. Mar 17, 2008, 9:57pm UTC
very, very nice

Thank you for taking me back to my days of studying art. I have not looked at a color plate of this painting in over 25 years. It would be so incredible to stand in front of this painting and have to time to just soak in the beauty of his gift of painting light.

Thank you, again.
Heather B. Mar 19, 2008, 10:04pm UTC
I enjoyed your account of this awe-inspiring painting and appreciate you taking me back to my favorite piazza in roma.... Piazza Navona. There is a friary at one end that I stayed in while there. I wish I had seen this painting though.
Ellie !. Apr 2, 2008, 11:55pm UTC
at a glance, many would pass this by...but with your opinion...and taking the time to look, i can see why you love it
The Fine Art of C.C. Miranda Apr 2, 2008, 11:57pm UTC
Caravaggio was a wonderful artist. and quite a character!

he was dead at the age of 38.

most artists i've discovered from looking thru my art history books died between age 37 and 38. this only leaves me a couple of more years. that frightens me.
Sammie Brown May 30, 2008, 8:38am UTC
Very interesting. It really is a lovely painting.

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