Book
Gospel in composition; angel may whisper inspiration.
Apostles
Saint Matthew
Levi
Look beside the writing desk. Matthew’s companion is a winged human figure, which helps distinguish him from the other evangelists.
Saint Matthew and the angelCaravaggio · 1602
01 / 10
- Feast
- September 21
- Era
- 1st century · Capernaum, Roman East
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Iconographic Attributes
Iconographic field guide
Identifying features
Winged man/angel inspires Matthew at his desk—distinct from Mark’s lion and Luke’s ox. Money bag or coins sometimes recall tax office in Calling scenes. Caravaggio’s Calling in San Luigi dei Francesi is the modern viewer’s default mental image.
- Clothing
- apostolic robes
- Colours
- red · blue · gold
- Symbols
- angel · winged man · quill
Sacred Halo
Divine or sanctified light around the head
Apostolic Robes
Garments of the Twelve or evangelists
scroll
Writing the Gospel
pen
Traditional iconographic attribute associated with this figure in Christian art.
Visual Gallery
Works / 10Saint Matthew and the angelCaravaggio · 1602
Saint Matthew the EvangelistHausbuch Master · 1475
Saint Matthew the EvangelistJusepe de Ribera · 1632
Head of Saint MatthewWorkshop of Rembrandt · 1660–1664
Saint Matthew the Evangelist1615
Saint Matthew and the angelGiovanni Girolamo Savoldo · c. 1534
Saint Matthew and the angelGuercino · 1622
Saint Matthew and the angelGuido Reni · 1635–1640
Saint Matthew and the angelSalomon Andersson
Saint Matthew and the angelKamal-ol-molk
Biography
Life & legacy
Matthew 9Matthew 9 recounts how Jesus called Matthew from the tax booth. Christian tradition attributes the first Gospel to this apostle. A winged human figure, often painted as an angel, identifies him in portraits of the evangelists.
Matthew 9:9; Papias on Matthew’s logia; evangelist symbol from Revelation 4.
Representation in Sacred Art
Narrative scenes to recognize
calling of Matthew
writing the Gospel
with angel
Visual Recognition Guide
1.Angel (winged man)
Symbol of the Evangelist Matthew
2.Book or scroll
Writing the Gospel
3.Writing desk or quill
Evangelist at work
4.Money bag (sometimes)
Recalls his profession as tax collector before conversion
Patronage and Devotion
bankersaccountantstax collectorscivil servants
Distinguishing Similar Figures
Often confused with Saint Luke: Both evangelists shown writing with symbolic creatures
Notes from the Archive
- Caravaggio painted him twice for the Contarelli Chapel in Rome
The Twelve Apostles course
Matthew at the tax table and at his desk
Recognise Matthew in two different parts of his artistic tradition.
Study this lesson 8 min · FreePractice
