The Vocation of Saint Mateo

VOCATION OF SAINT MATEO





 

INTRODUCTION

Tittle:The vocation of Saint Mateo.

Author:Caravaggio.

Style:Baroque.

Timeline:1599.

The seventeenth century was for Spain a period of serious political, military, economic and social crisis that ended up turning the Spanish Empire in power under France.In the seventeenth century, Spain suffered a serious demographic crisis, a consequence of the expulsion of around 300,000 Moriscos and mortality caused by the continuous wars, famine and plague.The Spanish society of seventeenth century was a divided society: the nobility and clergy preserved lands and privileges, while farmers suffered in all its rigor the economic crisis.
Caravaggio was an Italian painter, was the baroque movement and was commissioned the picture of The Vocation of St Mateo to decorate the chapel of Contarelli in the Roman church of St. Louis of the French in 1599.

ANALYSIS
The technical and support is oil on canvas.
Light and illuminated areas are seen as people first, highlighting the background shade.The light source is lateral.The shadow and light represent dramatics.In this work it is represented in a very marked lights and shadows with the technique tenebrism.
The brown colors and doughy brushstroke.
The composition is formed by a group of men, two feet, and others sitting around the table.
Its function is to decorate the Chapel Contarelli in the Roman church of St. Louis of the French , where still preserved.
Its theme is religious because Mateo tells how he became an apostle.The work expresses drama and tenebrism, sadness ..
In the picture we can see how Jesus calls Mateoleaving the rest of men surprised.The characteristics that are used Caravaggio are Baroque style.

The Martyrdom of Saint Mateo is a work opposite to that of The Vocation of St Mateo, the two works are by Caravaggio and have the same characteristics.






CONCLUSION
Caravaggio is an important Baroque author presents characteristics in his works of Baroque such as The Vocation of St Mateo.The characteristics of the work were represented in reality, a time of drama and pessimism.
It is important work of Caravaggio because it has all the characteristics of the time.