Saint Matthew 1596

Antonio Susini crafted this bronze sculpture of Saint Matthew sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. Susini lived during a time of religious and social upheaval, marked by the Counter-Reformation. Here, Matthew is portrayed as a thoughtful, almost melancholic figure. As one of the authors of the Gospels, he stands as a pillar of the early Church. The angel struggling beneath the weight of the book on which Matthew will write, traditionally signifies divine inspiration. Yet, this representation also speaks to the weight of religious authority and the challenges of interpreting divine will. The statue might reflect the artist’s personal negotiation between faith and the changing intellectual landscape of his time. This bronze is a study in contrasts—the solid, grounded saint versus the straining angel, the earthly versus the divine. It invites us to reflect on the burdens of faith and knowledge, and how these burdens are distributed, particularly in a society marked by hierarchy.