Stories of St. Matthew

The chapel hosts three of the most celebrated paintings of Caravaggio: the Vocation of Saint Matthew, the Martyrdom of Saint Matthew and Saint Matthew and the Angel. The work was commissioned by Cardinal Mathieu Cointrel, who chose the saint, whose name he bore, to be depicted by the master. The painting on the left shows the calling of Jesus of the young Matthew, intent on his work as tax collector, counting money. The light that cuts through the painting illuminating the scene represents  one of the greatest visions in all of art history.
 

THINGS TO KNOW: The painting on the altar with San Matteo and the angel is the second version by Caravaggio. The first was refused because it showed the saint as a ragged old man with dirty feet. Unfortunately, the original, taken to Berlin, was destroyed during the Second World War.