Saints Matthew and Francis by Giovanni di Paolo

Giovanni di Paolo · 1435-01-01

In Giovanni di Paolo's 'Saints Matthew and Francis,' painted in 1435 and held at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, every detail is a key to understanding these revered figures.

Observe Saint Matthew's yellow robe and his open red book, symbols of his role as an evangelist and author of the Gospel. Beside him, Saint Francis's simple brown habit speaks to his ascetic life, while the subtle stigmata on his hand, the wounds of Christ, are a powerful symbol of his profound spiritual devotion and identification with Christ's suffering.

Di Paolo, a prominent Sienese painter, used tempera, a medium known for its vibrant colors and precise detail, which was typical of 15th-century Italian art. This work beautifully blends traditional Gothic iconography with his distinctive expressive style, creating a piece rich in spiritual presence.

What other hidden meanings do you notice in historical paintings?

Details

Saint Matthew, on the left, wears the yellow robe of an evangelist.

On the right, Saint Francis wears the humble habit of his monastic order.

Transcript

Giovanni di Paolo painted these two saints in 1435. Saint Matthew, on the left, wears the yellow robe of an evangelist. He holds a red book, representing his authorship of the Gospel. On the right, Saint Francis wears the humble habit of his monastic order. And look closely, his hand bears the stigmata, Christ's wounds. This detail shows his deep spiritual identification with Christ's suffering.