Description
The painting St Matthew by the artist Frans Hals is a work that stands out for its artistic style, which is characterized by being very dynamic and expressive. Hals is known for his ability to capture the essence of his models, and in this work we can appreciate how he has managed to capture the strength and vitality of the Apostle Matthew.
The composition of the painting is very interesting, as Hals has chosen to place the apostle at a diagonal angle, which gives a sense of movement and dynamism to the work. Furthermore, the artist has used a loose and vibrant brushstroke technique, which gives a very fresh and spontaneous look to the painting.
Regarding color, Hals has used a very rich and varied palette, in which warm and earthy tones predominate. The Apostle Matthew is represented in an intense red tunic, which contrasts with the dark background of the painting and gives it a great visual impact.
The story of the St Matthew painting is also very interesting. It is a work that was commissioned by the Church of Saint Bavo in Haarlem, the Netherlands, in the 17th century. The painting was part of a set of six works that represented the apostles, and it is believed that they were placed in the church to decorate the choir.
One of the lesser known aspects of this work is that it was stolen twice. The first time was in 1804, when it was stolen by a group of thieves who tried to sell it on the black market. Fortunately, the painting was recovered and returned to the church. The second time was in 1988, when a group of thieves entered the church and took the painting along with other works of art. On this occasion, the painting was recovered after several months of searching and negotiations with the thieves.
In short, Frans Hals' painting St Matthew is a work of great artistic and historical value, noted for its dynamic and expressive style, its diagonal composition, its rich and varied palette, and its history of theft and recovery.