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Saint Matthew

Saint Matthew is an unfinished marble sculpture by Michelangelo, measuring 2.61 meters high. It is housed in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence. On 24 April 1503, Michelangelo signed a contract with the Wool Guild to create twelve apostle figures for Santa Maria del Fiore, but he only began Saint Matthew. When Giuliano della Rovere became Pope Julius II, he summoned Michelangelo to Rome to work on his tomb, and the Florence project was abandoned. The contract was annulled on 18 December 1505. The sculpture is related to the later slaves made for the tomb of Julius II and appears to emerge from the stone with great emotion, in the spirit of terribilitá.

Saint Matthew sculpture carved from a rough stone block, with the figure emerging in a strained pose.
Saint Matthew, shown emerging from an unfinished stone block in a strained pose.
January 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Unfinished marble sculpture of Saint Matthew emerging from stone, with a bearded figure looking upward.
Michelangelo’s Saint Matthew shown as an unfinished marble sculpture emerging from the block.
August 2011 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Saint Matthew, an unfinished marble sculpture of a bearded male figure emerging from rough stone.
Saint Matthew by Michelangelo, shown as an unfinished marble figure emerging from the block.
© · CC BY 3.0
Unfinished marble sculpture of Saint Matthew emerging from a rough stone block, with detailed head, arm, and draped torso.
Saint Matthew by Michelangelo, shown in its unfinished state with carved details emerging from the marble block.
January 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Unfinished marble sculpture of Saint Matthew with a figure emerging from the stone.
Saint Matthew by Michelangelo, shown as an unfinished marble figure emerging from the block.
January 2014 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleSaint Matthew
Typeunfinished marble statue
SubjectSaint Matthew the Apostle
Original titleSan Matteo

Historical context

Datecirca 1505–1506
Artistic periodHigh Renaissance

Creator

ArtistMichelangelo Buonarroti
Artist descriptionItalian Renaissance painter and sculptor

Discovery and provenance

Work begunprobably after completion of David in April 1504; at least five marble blocks had arrived in Florence by 1504
Attributed working period1504–1506
Contract annulled18 December 1505
Reason the commission was abandonedMichelangelo was called to Rome by Giuliano della Rovere, later Pope Julius II, to work on his tomb
Only started workSaint Matthew
Original commissiontwelve marble statues of the apostles for Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
Material selection requirementMichelangelo was to travel to Carrara himself to choose the marble
Production scheduleone statue per year
Intended placementthe choir niches of Florence Cathedral
Commission date24 April 1503
Commissioned bythe Arte della Lana and the Opera del Duomo of Florence
Disputed datingGoldscheider (1964) proposed circa 1512, but Vasari and a letter by Michelangelo dated 27 January 1524 indicate the apostle was already sketched before Michelangelo left for Rome

Physical characteristics

Height216 cm

Materials

Materialmarble
Block shapethe marble block retained its rectangular original form

Technique

Techniquecarved from a marble block; non-finito

Appearance

Posestrong contrapposto with vigorous twisting motion; left leg raised and resting on a stone, right leg extended; head turned to the left and upward; left arm relaxed along the body; right hand presses a book against the body
Compositionthe body is tense and turned by an inner force, with a shift between pelvis and shoulders and a strong S-shaped line
Visible formthe figure seems to emerge from the stone and was intended for a niche, essentially visible from the front
Attributea book
Conditionunfinished; partly visible marble block remains

Iconography and meaning

Stylistic comparisonresembling Michelangelo's later Slaves and showing a figure trying to free itself from the stone
Possible influenceLaocoön and His Sons, Donatello's Sacrifice of Isaac, and Pasquino
Visual impressioncharged with great emotion and seems to emerge with difficulty from the stone
Interpretationthe unfinished figure suggests a heroic primordial gesture of victory over chaos and the triumph of thought over chaos
Subject meaningMatthew is depicted as writing not his own words but those spoken to him by an angel

History and restoration

Current locationGalleria dell'Accademia, Florence
Earlier locationsrooms of the Opera del Duomo in Florence; later the atrium of the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno; moved to the gallery in the early 20th century
Acquisition date by current museum1909
Preparatory drawingCabinet des Dessins, Louvre, inventory no. 1068

Significance

Historical significanceone of the first conspicuous examples of non-finito and possibly one of the first documented recognitions of an unfinished work of art
Critical receptionconsidered by Giorgio Vasari a preliminary model (modello) and praised for Michelangelo's mastery
Influencesignificant influence on Michelangelo's contemporaries, including Raphael and Jacopo Sansovino