Battistello’s ‘The Calling of St. Matthew’ on View at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

The Calling of St. Matthew, ca. 1625-30, oil on canvas,
Giovanni Battista Caracciolo (1578-1635)

Revisiting some old favorites during our recent trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s newly reopened European Paintings 1300-1800 galleries, we unexpectedly stumbled upon The Calling of St. Matthew (ca.1625-30) by Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, also known as Battistello, in gallery 620. Acquired by the Met in 2016, I don’t recall seeing this oil painting before. Only the second Battistello painting I’ve seen at the Met (back in 2013, his Tobias and the Angel, ca. 1622, was on view), this is a rare opportunity to see the Neapolitan’s work in person. Needless to say, my photos do these great masterpieces no justice, they should be experienced in person, even if they aren't in their original palatial and church settings.

The "Old Favorites"

Self-Portrait, ca. 1647, oil on canvas,
Salvator Rosa (1615-1673)

The Dream of Aeneas, 1660-65, oil on canvas, Salvator Rosa (1615-1673)

Bandits on a Rocky Coast, 1655-60,
oil on canvas, Salvator Rosa (1615-1673)

Pilate Washing His Hands, 1663, oil on canvas,
Mattia Preti (Il Cavalier Calabrese) (1613-1699)

Christ Crowned with Thorns, oil, possibly over tempera, on wood,
Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio) (1430-1479)

Portrait of a Young Man, ca. 1470, oil on wood,
Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio) (1430-1479)

Judith with the Head of Holofernes, ca. 1640,
oil on canvas, Massimo Stanzione (1585-1656)

Medea Rejuvenating Aeson, ca. 1760, oil on canvas,
Corrado Giaquinto (1703-1766)

The Penitent Magdalen, ca. 1750, oil on canvas,
Corrado Giaquinto (1703-1766)

The Translation of the Holy House of Loreto, ca. 1490, Tempera
and gold on wood, attributed to Saturnino Gatti, (1463-1518)

St. Margaret of Cortona, ca. 1758, oil on canvas,
Gaspare Traversi (ca. 1722-1770)

Teasing a Sleeping Girl, ca. 1760, oil on canvas,
Gaspare Traversi (ca. 1722-1770)