Artwork
Saint Matthew and the Angel
Saint Matthew and the Angel is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Guercino. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the Capitoline Museums.
About this work
Overview
Created between 1621 and 1622, this oil on canvas by the Italian Baroque painter Guercino portrays Saint Matthew receiving divine instruction. The work is part of the collection of the Musei Capitolini in Rome, where it has been displayed since the mid‑18th century.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows an elderly, white‑haired saint seated on the floor, his right hand resting on an opened book, while a youthful, winged figure in a blue robe with red trim points to a scroll. The interaction suggests the angel delivering the Gospel text to Matthew, emphasizing the transmission of sacred knowledge.
Technique & Style
Guercino employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting a dark brick‑lined background with illuminated figures. The dramatic lighting models the flesh and drapery, while the restrained palette of whites, blues, and reds highlights the spiritual focus of the scene.
History & Provenance
The original patron of the painting is unknown. The first documentary evidence appears in a 1641 inventory of the Pio collection, where it remained listed in 1724 and 1750. In 1750 Pope Benedict XIV purchased the entire Pio di Savoia estate, incorporating the work into the newly founded Museo del Campidoglio, now the Musei Capitolini.
Context
Executed during Guercino’s early Roman period, the work reflects the Baroque interest in dynamic narrative and emotional intensity. Its subject aligns with Counter‑Reformation themes that highlighted the authority of the Gospel and the role of divine inspiration.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
