St. Matthew, plate 8 from The Twelve Apostles 1545

Curator: Here we see Sebald Beham’s engraving, “St. Matthew, plate 8 from The Twelve Apostles,” created in 1545. Editor: Well, hello, St. Matthew! He's certainly not what I picture when I think of an apostle. He looks like he's seen a few things, maybe wrestled a bear or two. Curator: The print belongs to a series depicting the twelve apostles, a common subject in Northern Renaissance art, and part of the broader humanist interest in depicting Biblical figures with more individual characterization. Editor: It's the eyes, isn't it? Deep-set, like he’s peering into the abyss. And that enormous sword… bit theatrical for a humble apostle, no? Or maybe that was his bear-wrestling implement of choice. Curator: It does lend a more militant air to his image, doesn't it? The sword functions here both as a symbol of Matthew's faith and perhaps to signify the power of God's word as a weapon against evil. Editor: Faith is a weapon. I like that. He's definitely carrying the weight of something heavy, even if it is just that magnificent cloak and slightly ridiculous headgear. Curator: Beham was a fascinating figure; his personal life, his complicated relationship with the church and the governing authorities, were rather turbulent, something he had to address throughout his entire career. Editor: Turbulent, yes. I can feel the anxiety radiating off this print! It makes him more human, more relatable than the perfectly serene saints of some earlier art. He looks like he is trying to solve a riddle. Curator: I agree. He represents a departure from idealized religious figures. We are invited to consider not just the saint, but the man. Editor: A troubled man perhaps. And you know, there's beauty in that troubled humanity. Gives you something to think about, doesn’t it? Curator: It does. It makes him more complex, just as faith and history can be complex too. Editor: So next time you are cornered in a bar quiz, the answer is always: "Saint Matthew and his gigantic sword". Thank you for the insightful chat. Curator: Indeed. A striking, rather unique representation. It has been a pleasure.