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The cover of this issue is a detail from “The Calling of St. Matthew” by Michelangelo Merisi (or Amerighi) (1571-1610), otherwise known as Caravaggio.
The French merchant Mateo Contarelli bought one of the private chapels of the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome, for his burial place and commissioned various paintings and sculptures devoted to St. Matthew, the saint whose name it bore.
This was the first time he had been commissioned to paint a church, giving all its visitors the opportunity to admire his work.
Light pierces the scene and illuminates the face of the youth accompanying Matthew, who is surprised by Christ’s appearance in the room.
The painting dates from around 1600. |
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