AP European History
The Calling of Saint Matthew is a significant painting by the artist Caravaggio, created around 1599-1600, depicting the moment when Jesus Christ calls Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him as one of his apostles. This artwork exemplifies the key characteristics of Baroque art, including dramatic use of light and shadow (chiaroscuro) and intense emotional expression, which are also pivotal in the Mannerism movement that preceded it, characterized by its complex compositions and elongated forms.