Tea w/ Deacon Arthur Resumes July 12
The Inspiration of St. Matthew, 1602, oil on canvas,
San Luigi Dei Francesi, Rome, Caravaggio
I first viewed original works of Caravaggio (Michele Angelo Merigi) while visiting the Metropolitan Museum of Art during a college trip: let us just say some time back.
While I knew a little about his art, I had no idea of Caravaggio’s tempestuous life. As we approached one of his paintings, The Denial of Saint Peter, I shared my amateur thoughts with my friends on the dramatic effect of the brightly lit areas in contrast to a dark background. A kind docent standing nearby joined in the conversation and complimented my insight. He had no idea I was speaking off the cuff. Nor did I admit to it. He went on with enthusiasm about how Caravaggio created religious art within the debate surrounding the theoretical and practical role of religious art in the time of the Catholic Reform.
I later learned that Caravaggio approached the theme of religious art outside a theological framework. However, I believe his religious art reveals the intuition and empathy of a passionate painter. This is why I am so intrigued with his work.
One of my favorites is an Altarpiece commissioned for San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. The 1602 painting that serves as the reredos of a chapel, The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, is actually Caravaggio’s second try at the commission. His first painting met the disapproval of the Cardinal, who thought it was provocative and controversial. Saint Matthew was sitting with his bare legs crossed, his feet rudely exposed to the viewer, and the angel figure resting on Saint Matthew’s shoulders, much too close for comfort for the Cardinal. I cannot imagine how Caravaggio felt about starting all over. Nevertheless, we have the second and final piece still at the altar today. It is refreshing to recognize that expressions of the scripture through the arts can share in the same struggle as our own journey with the scriptures themselves.
This season after Pentecost, we have been traveling back in time to the Hellenistic world, discussing lectionary readings from Matthew’s Gospel. I invite you to continue in this journey with a cup of tea or coffee for ‘Tea with the Deacon’ on Sundays at 1 pm throughout the month of July via Zoom. I hope to see you starting with Sunday, July 12th. We are skipping July 5th to honor the July 4th holiday. The Zoom invitation link is below.
Grace and Peace
Rev. Arthur W. Villarreal
Deacon
Arthur Villarreal is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Matthew - Tea with the Deacon
Time: Jul 12, 2020 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Sun, until Jul 26, 2020, 3 occurrence(s)
Jul 12, 2020 01:00 PM
Jul 19, 2020 01:00 PM
Jul 26, 2020 01:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85722017106?pwd=S1NGSzl2cThpTmhsNkV1U1Naak1GZz09
Meeting ID: 857 2201 7106
Password: 408623