Saint Matthew and the Angel
Saint Matthew shares a spellbound gaze with an angel who inspires him to write his gospel. Behind are two scenes from the saint’s life: on the right he receives hospitality at the court of the queen of Ethiopia, while the event on the left is less clear. The various sources of light in the painting suggest that this was one of the works described by the biographer Giorgio Vasari as “nocturnes, with fires,” which Savoldo painted around 1534 for the head of the Milanese mint.
Artwork Details
- Title: Saint Matthew and the Angel
- Artist: Giovanni Gerolamo Savoldo (Italian, Brescia 1480/85–after 1548)
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 36 3/4 x 49 in. (93.4 x 124.5 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Marquand Fund, 1912
- Object Number: 12.14
- Curatorial Department: European Paintings
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.