St. Matthew is depicted receiving inspiration in composing his gospel from a divinely sent, winged human figure, one of the four winged creatures described in revelation that were understood as symbolizing the four evangelists. This painting is from a series of the four evangelists that is datable to around 1616 by comparison to a similar, dated series. By contorting the evangelist's body in a cramped space against a black background, wtewael (pronounced "oo-te-vahl") increases our sense of the saint's stress and concentration. This artificial manipulation is visually intriguing but old fashioned at a time when bloemaert and others were turning to greater naturalism. Object Type: painting. Genre: religious art. Date: circa 1616 (Baroque). Place of creation: Utrecht, Netherlands. Dimensions: height: 78.7 cm (30.9 in); width: 62 cm (24.4 in). Medium: oil on panel. Depicted People: Matthew the Apostle. Collection: Walters Art Museum. Joachim Antonisz Wtewael - Saint Matthew - Walters 372617
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