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Saint Matthew

Jacques de Gheyn II

1588

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Saint Matthew is a 1588 ink by Jacques de Gheyn II, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jacques de Gheyn II
When & what style?: 1588 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting depicts a man with a long white beard, wearing a white robe. He is holding a book in his left hand and a sword in his right. The man's head is surrounded by a halo, and he appears to be sitting or leaning on something, although it is not visible in the image. The man's facial expression is serious, and his eyes are cast downward, as if he is reading or contemplating something. The background of the painting is dark, which helps to highlight the subject's features. The level of detail in the painting suggests that it was created during the Renaissance period. To learn more about the techniques used to create this level of detail, look into the technique of cross-hatching.