Artwork
Landscape with St Matthew and the Angel
Landscape with St Matthew and the Angel is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Nicolas Poussin. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
It stands as a significant example of 17th-century French classicism, demonstrating how Poussin integrated sacred subjects into a timeless, pastoral setting.
Nicolas Poussin's Landscape with St Matthew and the Angel, executed in 1640, presents a harmonious synthesis of religious narrative and idealized nature. The composition centers on the evangelist Matthew, seated on a stone ledge in the left foreground, who is visited by an angel guiding his hand as he writes the Gospel. The angel, draped in white robes with expansive wings, leans intimately toward the saint, establishing a focal point of divine inspiration. This human interaction is framed by a vast, serene landscape featuring a winding river that recedes into the distance, flanked by lush trees and rolling hills under a luminous sky. Painted during Poussin's mature Roman period, the work exemplifies his classical approach to landscape, where the natural world is ordered and rationalized to reflect theological truths. The painting reflects the artist's shift toward a more structured, intellectual style, prioritizing clarity of form and balanced composition over the dynamic movement of his earlier Baroque works. It stands as a significant example of 17th-century French classicism, demonstrating how Poussin integrated sacred subjects into a timeless, pastoral setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the Apostle Matthew receiving instruction from an angel, a theme drawn from biblical tradition that emphasizes divine guidance in the composition of the Gospel. The interaction between the human and celestial figures suggests a moment of revelation or inspiration.
Technique & Style
Poussin employs chiaroscuro to model forms, using light and shadow to give the figures and landscape a three‑dimensional presence. The palette of muted earth tones contrasted with the angel’s white robes and the blue sky enhances the serene atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has been part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s holdings of 17th‑century French art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas Poussin (UK: , US: , French: ; June 1594 – 19 November 1665) was a leading painter of the classical French Baroque style, although he spent most of his working life in Rome.
