Matteüs de evangelist c. 1601 - 1634

Curator: Allow me to introduce "Matteüs de evangelist," an engraving by Giovanni Battista Pasqualini dating roughly from 1601 to 1634. Editor: Whoa, it's got that old-world seriousness cranked up to eleven. But there's also a sweetness—that angel whispering in his ear, you know? It’s all heavy lines and serious faces. Curator: Observe the stark contrasts Pasqualini achieves with line alone. Note the strategic hatching and cross-hatching, used not only to define form but also to evoke a tangible sense of light and shadow. This print’s visual interest lies precisely in the details of Pasqualini's deliberate graphic language. Editor: He's really jammed it all in there, hasn’t he? It's like, "Let’s put a wizened scholar there, an angel on each shoulder, throw in some heavenly clouds…and, oh yes, don't forget the ancient scroll!" Talk about visual overload, but done with so much dedication, almost obsessively so! The guy’s practically overflowing with divine inspiration, at least how the artist perceived him. I like the drama. Curator: The Baroque embraces dynamic compositions to amplify an allegorical dimension. It's important to understand the historical function of prints. Dissemination, education and so on…The gesture upwards denotes, perhaps, an aspiration for divine connection and approval of his evangelical writings. Editor: Yeah, it makes me think, what was going through his mind as he put pen to paper? Was he just copying something, or did he genuinely feel called? The intensity in his face makes you think it could be something authentic going on. Is this an accurate portrayal, do you think? Is it even *trying* to be? Or is it more a performance of saintly scribbling? A piece of propaganda! Curator: Regardless, we should recognise its value within a highly codified and structured pictorial language. Ultimately, this engraving allows a tangible engagement with the religious iconography that continues to impact society to this day. Editor: Absolutely, an incredible piece. The contrast between the very mortal, human face and the almost cartoonish angel really makes you think about what ‘inspiration’ even looks like! It's a fantastic clash of the earthly and the divine—carved into paper!