Good Shepherd - Earliest Christian Art from the
Catacombs of Rome - 200AD
Carravagio - The Call of St Matthew
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This beautiful painting in a church in Rome is part of a cycle of three paintings on the life of St Matthew, including his inspiration and his martyrdom.
If you look carefully, Matthew the despised tax collector, is busy counting his money as Jesus calls him to follow him. The hand and forearm pointing to Matthew imitates the famous painting of God creating Adam by in the Sistine Chapel 80 years earlier by Michelangelo.
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The other characters in the painting are looking at Jesus in a startled way, whilst Matthew remains engrossed with his money. ​​
This framing by the artist with deliberate echoes of Michelangelo invite the theologically informed viewer to reflect. The call of Jesus is an act of creation for Matthew. Jesus, looking at the greedy young man is inviting him to start a new life following Him, but basing his life on new values.
This reorientation of our life is an invitiation from Jesus for all of us!
Daily Art
Praying with Art with Geoff Wheaton SJ