The Calling of St. Matthew was painted by which artist?

The Calling of St. Matthew was painted by which artist?

• A. Botticelli
• B. Caravaggio
• C. Rembrandt
• D. Velazquez

Answer: (B)

Caravaggio is known for portraying biblical scenes as immediate, everyday moments illuminated with dramatic light, a technique called tenebrism. In The Calling of St. Matthew, a group of tax collectors sits around a table in a dim room, and a strong beam of light falls on Jesus and Matthew at the moment of the call. That stark contrast between light and shadow, plus the naturalistic, unidealized figures, is quintessential Caravaggio and helps convey the emotional turning point of the scene. The other artists listed have different stylistic or historical contexts—Botticelli from an earlier Renaissance with graceful, idealized forms; Rembrandt and Velázquez, while masters of light in their own right, produced different works and subjects. Thus, this painting is by Caravaggio.

Caravaggio is known for portraying biblical scenes as immediate, everyday moments illuminated with dramatic light, a technique called tenebrism. In The Calling of St. Matthew, a group of tax collectors sits around a table in a dim room, and a strong beam of light falls on Jesus and Matthew at the moment of the call. That stark contrast between light and shadow, plus the naturalistic, unidealized figures, is quintessential Caravaggio and helps convey the emotional turning point of the scene. The other artists listed have different stylistic or historical contexts—Botticelli from an earlier Renaissance with graceful, idealized forms; Rembrandt and Velázquez, while masters of light in their own right, produced different works and subjects. Thus, this painting is by Caravaggio.