Artwork
The Calling of Saint Matthew
The Calling of Saint Matthew is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Jan Sanders van Hemessen. It dates from 1536 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Jan Sanders van Hemessen’s *The Calling of Saint Matthew* (1536) is an oil painting that illustrates the biblical moment when Christ invites the tax collector Matthew to become a disciple. Executed in the Flemish tradition yet infused with Italian influences, the work reflects the artist’s participation in the Romanist movement, which merged Northern detail with Southern compositional ideas.
Subject & Meaning
The scene unfolds in a dimly lit interior where a group of six figures gathers around a table strewn with coins. Christ, identifiable by his red robe and outstretched hand, points toward Matthew, whose expression suggests a sudden decision. The juxtaposition of money and the gesture underscores the transition from material occupation to spiritual vocation.
Technique & Style
Hemessen employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the faces of the figures to emerge from the surrounding gloom, a hallmark of Mannerist drama. The figures are elongated and arranged in a complex, almost theatrical composition, emphasizing tension and movement. The oil medium enables subtle gradations of light and a rich, tactile rendering of textures such as fabric and metal.
History & Provenance
Born in the early 1500s, Hemessen traveled to Italy and France, absorbing Renaissance principles that he later integrated into his Flemish practice.
Born in the early 1500s, Hemessen traveled to Italy and France, absorbing Renaissance principles that he later integrated into his Flemish practice. *The Calling of Saint Matthew* was likely produced for a private devotional setting, reflecting the period’s interest in narrative biblical scenes. The painting has remained in European collections, illustrating the spread of Romanist works across the continent.
Context
The work belongs to a broader 16th‑century trend where Northern artists adopted Italian compositional strategies, especially the use of dramatic lighting and dynamic figure placement. As a Romanist, Hemessen contributed to the cross‑cultural dialogue that shaped the evolution of Mannerism, bridging detailed Northern observation with the grand gestures of the Italian Renaissance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Sanders van Hemessen (c. 1500 – c. 1566) was a leading Flemish Renaissance painter, belonging to the group of Italianizing Flemish painters called the Romanists, who were influenced by Italian Renaissance painting.…
