Artwork
Matthew the Evangelist with Benefactor
Matthew the Evangelist with Benefactor is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Perino del Vaga. It dates from 1531 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1531 by the Italian painter Perino del Vaga, this oil on canvas presents a devotional scene typical of the Late Renaissance and Mannerist period. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is displayed as an example of religious genre painting from the early sixteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a bearded man seated on a chair, holding a quill and an open book, attributes traditionally linked to the evangelist Matthew. An angel with outstretched wings stands behind him, gesturing upward, suggesting divine inspiration. A smaller kneeling figure looks toward the scholar, reinforcing the theme of reverence for scriptural authorship.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil, the painting demonstrates the elongated forms and elegant poses characteristic of Mannerism, while retaining the rich coloration of the Late Renaissance. The artist employs a dark, draped backdrop and a carved frame that encloses the scene, creating a sense of depth and theatricality that draws the viewer’s eye toward the central narrative.
History & Provenance
After its completion in the early 1530s, the canvas entered various private collections before being acquired by the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The museum’s records indicate that the painting has been part of its holdings since the early twentieth century, where it has been conserved and studied as part of the museum’s Italian Renaissance holdings.
Context
Perino del Vaga, a pupil of Raphael, often blended classical elegance with the expressive gestures of Mannerism. This work reflects the period’s interest in portraying saints and evangelists as learned men, emphasizing the intellectual and spiritual authority of the Gospel writers within a visually elaborate framework.
Artist & collection
Artist
Piero Bonaccorsi (1501 – October 19, 1547), known as Perino (or Perin) del Vaga, was an Italian painter and draughtsman of the Late Renaissance/Mannerism.
