Saint Matthew and Angels
1863
oil
From the collection of National Museum in Warsaw
1863
oil
From the collection of National Museum in Warsaw
This painting depicts a scene with a man, Saint Matthew, being carried by angels. The man is shirtless and wearing a red cloth wrapped around his waist. He has a beard and is holding a large book in his left hand. The angels are dressed in green and yellow robes and are holding onto a large cross. The background of the painting is a muted color, which helps to focus attention on the figures in the foreground. The overall mood of the painting is one of serenity and devotion. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds to the dramatic effect of the painting. To learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
