The Calling of St. Matthew was painted by which Italian Baroque master?

• A. Titian
• B. Raphael
• C. Tintoretto
• D. Caravaggio

Answer: (D)

The Calling of St. Matthew is a hallmark of Caravaggio’s approach to painting, with dramatic light shaping a tense, real moment. Caravaggio uses a strong shaft of light to illuminate the figures at a tavern table, drawing attention to Christ’s gesture and Matthew’s reaction. This kind of tenebrism—where sharp contrasts of light and darkness create spatial drama and psychological immediacy—defines his work and marks a shift toward the Baroque’s emphasis on realism, immediacy, and emotional impact.

The other artists belong to earlier periods. Titian is a master of the Renaissance with lush color and idealized form; Raphael embodies high Renaissance harmony and idealized composition; Tintoretto, while known for dynamic lighting and energetic scenes, is rooted in late Renaissance/Mannerist tendencies rather than the Baroque’s focus on everyday verisimilitude. Caravaggio’s combination of ordinary settings, contemporary clothing, and decisive, theatrical lighting best fits this painting.