Saint Matthew Seated in a Niche 1572 - 1642

"Saint Matthew Seated in a Niche" is a black chalk drawing made by Fabrizio Boschi, a Florentine artist, around the turn of the 17th century. Boschi lived through a time of considerable political and religious tension. The image depicts Saint Matthew, one of the four evangelists, seated and in contemplation, presumably writing his Gospel. He is accompanied by an angel, a common attribute in depictions of Matthew, symbolizing divine inspiration. The niche in which Matthew is placed gives him a sense of importance and authority. The drawing embodies the period’s desire to affirm traditional religious narratives, while subtly engaging with humanist ideals of individual expression and introspection. Notice how the softness of the chalk lends an ethereal quality to the figures, blurring the lines between the divine and the human. The angel, with its gentle features and delicate wings, leans in as if sharing a secret, underscoring the intimate and personal nature of faith. Boschi’s drawing invites a dialogue between the sacred and the individual, between the authority of the Church and the deeply personal experience of belief.