Saint Matthew
Original title: Saint Mathew
kurzbeschreibung
Louis Jacob etched and engraved this sheet in 1726 after a design by François Boucher. It shows Saint Matthew seated, printed in a single colour and measuring 35 × 21.5 cm.
Description
Matthew has settled on a stone block, his head tilted to one side, one hand resting against his forehead. A long-sleeved robe wraps around him. A book and a scroll lie before him, and he is absorbed in them. Trees and the edge of a building fill the background and frame the action. The arrangement reads as balanced, the light is muted, and texture and detail are emphasised in the Baroque manner.
Context
The print was made in France in 1726, with François Boucher providing the design and Louis Jacob the engraving. Boucher was then a rising artist who would later rank among the leading painters of the Rococo. This image of the evangelist follows the iconographic tradition that shows Matthew with a book or scroll.
Impact
The saint's quiet, thoughtful posture and the delicate linework of the engraving draw the viewer into a sense of closeness and concentration. Because the print stays in a single colour, the facial features and the fabric of the robe come to the fore.
Technique
Etching and engraving are used together here, allowing fine lines and precise shading. Dense hatching builds the muted light and models the texture of the robe and the setting.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)