100% Hand-Painted Oil
Guido Reni paints Saint Matthew at half-length, writing the Gospel, with a young winged angel leaning close at his shoulder dictating into his ear. The two heads are close together; Matthew's gaze is ...
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Features
“St Matthew and the Angel”
by Guido Reni
| Overview | |
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Author
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Color
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Brown,
White,
Black,
Gold
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Tags
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Religious Art,
Christianity,
Holy Figures,
Spiritual,
Gospel Writer
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| Painting Details | |
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Alternate Titles
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Divine Inspiration Of St Matthew
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Art Movement
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Baroque
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Historical Events
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Counter-Reformation
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| Visual and Stylistic Elements | |
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Brushwork/Texture
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Blended And Rich
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Focal Point
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Saint Matthew And The Angel
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Light Source
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Soft Studio Light
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Objects
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Saint Matthew , Angels , Books , Quill
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Orientation
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Vertical
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Perspective
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Soft Illumination Perspective
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| Original Masterpiece Features | |
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Creation Process
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Oil On Canvas
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Inscriptions/Signatures
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Signed By Reni
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Patron/Commissioner
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Religious Institution
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Provenance
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Vatican Museums
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| Influences and Related Works | |
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Influences
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Biblical Narrative
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Related Works
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The Crucifixion Of Saint Peter
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| Exhibition and Market Information | |
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Criticism & Reception
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Recognized For Its Graceful Composition
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Cultural Significance
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Depicts The Divine Inspiration Of The Evangelists
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Current Owner
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Vatican Museums
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Exhibition History
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Vatican Museums, Rome
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Public Domain Status
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Public Domain
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Description
“St Matthew and the Angel”
by Guido Reni
Guido Reni paints Saint Matthew at half-length, writing the Gospel, with a young winged angel leaning close at his shoulder dictating into his ear. The two heads are close together; Matthew's gaze is downward on the page, the angel's eyes are turned upward. The colour is held to warm cream and ochre of the robes, deep brown of the surrounding shadow, and the soft pink of the angel's wings.
The canvas is hand-finished in oil; the close-set heads and the soft modelling of the angel's wings depend on real paint and many transparent layers. The picture's quietness rests on the surface itself.
The painting belongs to the late period of Guido Reni's Bolognese career. The picture suits a study, a hallway with steady indirect light, or a quiet wall opposite a single reading chair. A dark wood or aged-gilt frame is the most coherent pairing; a heavy ornate frame would fight the picture's intimate scale. The reproduction is hand-finished on stretched canvas, ready to hang. Available in standard sizes; custom dimensions can be commissioned for a particular wall. A buyer who already owns several canvases of this period will find it a natural addition.
The canvas joins our wider range of art reproductions on canvas.
Collector's Guide PDF
“St Matthew and the Angel”
by Guido Reni
Reviews
“St Matthew and the Angel”
by Guido Reni
Q/A
“St Matthew and the Angel”
by Guido Reni
Experts answer questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does Guido Reni depict in St Matthew and the Angel?
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What visual qualities define Reni's treatment of this subject?
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What is the historical context of evangelist portraits in Baroque art?
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What atmosphere does a print of St Matthew and the Angel create in a home?
Additional Information
“St Matthew and the Angel”
by Guido Reni
- Quotes
- Interesting facts
- Best Rooms & Interior Pairings
- Hand-Painted Reproduction Notes
- Composition, Colors & Visual Details
“Reni painted inspiration made visible.” Richard Spear
“The angel whispers sacred words.” Stephen Pepper
“Heaven guides the earthly pen.” D. Stephen Pepper
“Reni made the Gospel's origin visible.” Marco Riccomini
“Divine and human collaborate in sacred text.” Evelina Borea
#1. Evangelist Portrait. Matthew is shown writing his Gospel with angelic assistance.
#2. Divine Inspiration. The angel represents the divine inspiration guiding Matthew's writing.
#3. Counter-Reformation Theme. Such images reinforced the authority of sacred scripture.
#4. Reni's Late Style. The painting shows Reni's mature, refined manner.
#5. Gospel Writer. Matthew was one of the four Evangelists who wrote the Gospels.
On the wall of a reading corner or formal sitting room, or a library, the vertical composition reads at its best. Place it where viewers naturally pause: a sofa wall, an entry vista, the long view of a room. Gallery-style interiors with soft wool textiles and leather chairs suit it especially well. Placed thoughtfully, it brings a quiet weight to a room without dominating the social atmosphere. The work rewards both a casual passing glance and a long, close inspection.
A studio reproducing this work focuses on the soft illumination perspective perspective and the focal point — saint matthew and the angel. The artist's hand stays loose where the original is loose, and tight where the original is tight. Religious scenes call for careful drapery work and a steady, even light across the figures. Worked by hand in oil on canvas, the painting retains the brush marks that give it life.
A grave silence holds the scene in place, with Saint Matthew And The Angel at its core. Among the elements on the surface are saint matthew, angels, books, and quill, each given its share of attention. Color is led by brown, white, black, and gold, giving the surface its temperature. Light is handled with restraint, modeling rather than dramatizing the forms. The whole reads as a single arrangement; the parts hold their own when examined. The surface carries a controlled finish, with small shifts in handling across the picture.
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