Oct 10 2007
Faith in Art
This painting (on the left) is by one of my favorite artists, the Italian baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, better known simply as Caravaggio. It’s entitled The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew. The painting displays the artist’s trademark realism and stark use of lighting. It’s also unusual in that it recently came to light again after years of neglect. The British Royal Family has long held the painting (for almost 400 years), though it has lain unseen in a storeroom at Hampton Court for decades.
From the (UK) Telegraph:
Years of grime, varnishing and zealous over-painting to cover up damage convinced generations of art historians that it was of little merit. It was recently valued at “a few tens of thousands of pounds”, mainly because Charles I’s stamp was on the back.
The painting was bought by Charles I in 1637 and after being sold with most of the Royal Collection during the Commonwealth, it was re-acquired by Charles II.
Misattributed as a copy of a Caravaggio by an unknown hand, it was valued in thousands rather than millions.
The painting is taken from the scene in St Mark’s Gospel where Christ, with Peter and Andrew while they are fishing at the Sea of Galilee, says to them: “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” Unusually, Christ is shown without a beard. The Royal Collection has dated it to between 1603 and 1606 when Caravaggio worked in Rome.
(The restored painting is on the left.)
