The Calling of St. Matthew

Orcagna (Andrea di Cione), the dominant artistic personality in Florence during the third quarter of the 14th century, painted this Calling of Saint Matthew around 1367. As painter, sculptor, architect, and poet, Orcagna held an unrivaled position in Florentine artistic life, serving as capomaestro of Orsanmichele and executing major commissions for Florence's leading institutions. The calling of Matthew from his tax collector's table was a subject that resonated with Florence's mercantile culture, reminding wealthy citizens that worldly success must ultimately yield to divine vocation.

Executed in egg tempera and gold on panel, the work displays Orcagna's monumental, sculptural approach to figure painting that marked a decisive shift from Giotto's softer modeling. The solid, volumetric figures and clear spatial arrangement reflect Orcagna's dual practice as painter and sculptor.