Artwork
Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist

Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Juan Ribalta. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These writing implements symbolize the saints' roles as authors of sacred texts, referencing Matthew's Gospel and the Johannine works of the New Testament.
This religious painting by Juan Ribalta, executed in 1625, portrays two specific Christian figures: Matthew the Apostle and John the Evangelist. The iconography identifies the saints through their traditional attributes, specifically the inclusion of a pen and an inkwell within the composition. These writing implements symbolize the saints' roles as authors of sacred texts, referencing Matthew's Gospel and the Johannine works of the New Testament.
By depicting the figures alongside these tools of literacy, the work emphasizes their contribution to Christian scripture and their status as Evangelists.
Technique & Style
Created in 1625, Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting executed on canvas by Juan Ribalta. The work measures 66 cm in height and 102 cm in width. As a religious painting, the composition depicts the apostles Matthew and John the Evangelist, including specific attributes such as a pen and an inkwell. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
History & Provenance
The painting Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist was created by Juan Ribalta in 1625. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 66 cm in height and 102 cm in width. It depicts the Apostles Matthew and John the Evangelist alongside attributes such as a pen and inkwell. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
Juan Ribalta painted Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist in 1625. The work is housed at the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Its inventory number is P00968. The painting has been part of the museum's exhibitions on Spanish Baroque art and religious works, including the 1996 exhibition 'Spanish Baroque Painting: 1600-1750'.
Overview
Created in 1625 by Juan Ribalta, a Valencian painter of the early seventeenth century, this oil on canvas presents two apostolic figures in a nocturnal setting. The composition centers on Saint Matthew and Saint John the Evangelist, each engaged in the act of writing, while a muted night sky and a subtle illumination define the scene.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Juan Ribalta (1597 – October 1628) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period. He was born and died in Valencia. His father, Francisco Ribalta, was a famous painter, active in the style of Caravaggio. Some sources…












