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The Caravaggio Painting - Reproductions of Caravaggio’s “St. Matthew and the Angel” destroyed in WWII have all been painted incorrectly in color scheme. Discovery of a lost description of … more
San Diego Feb 23, 2016
A very carefully researched reproduction painting, detail matched for color, brush stroke technique and dimensional accuracy to close match the original Nativity scene created by Caravaggio for the Oratorio of San Lorenzo is presently unaccounted for and possibly has been missing early after the Archdiocese of Palermo received it 1986.
With the blessings and full authorization of the Archdiocese of Palermo, the Holy See and the Italian Government, this painting was commissioned and produced starting early in 1986. It was delivered to the Palermo Archdiocese in mid December 1986. It took over two years to secure permission from Italian authorities to produce the painting as a gift to the people of Palermo.
In January 1987, it was promised in a letter by the archdiocese that the new painting would be hung in place of the original Caravaggio that was stolen from over the oratorio’s altar in 1969. All documentation and authorization are in writing and photographs from the archdiocese, the Italian government and other authoritative sources such as museums and US federal authorities.
Sky Arte Broadcasting recently contracted an art consortium (Factum-Arte), for a faithful reproduction of the same Nativity scene and ceremoniously dedicated it to the Church early in December 2015.
It is believed, had Sky Broadcasting researched for the presence of another reproduction of the painting, their actions may have been quite different and possibly taken another course.
Details outlining the production, delivery and recognition to the 1986 Nativity painting’s creation are fully outlined in detail in this article. They include the correspondence between the Archbishop of Palermo, officials in the Archdiocese, the Italian Cultural arts division of the Italian embassy, the US Customs service, the Italian police and an independent Art Recovery service. Consultation with a journalist who attempted to buy the stolen Caravaggio original years before is also included.
CARAVAGGIO’S ST. MATTHEW AND THE ANGEL RESURRECTED TRUE COLOR DESCRIPTION DISCOVERED IN OLD ARCHIVES OF A BERLIN MUSEUM MAKES ALL KNOWN REPRODUCTIONS INACCURATE
Wikipedia image of Matthew and the Angel as painted repetitiously since WWII. Painting coloration is inaccurate based on the description by Museum Curator and Art Critic Hans Posse, written in 1909. Some attempts alter the outer robe colors slightly, almost all portray a maroon shirt (tunic) in addition to other anomalies newly discovered over 30 years ago by an American artist experienced in reproduction.
Color corrected version based on description supplied by the Staatliche Museen Zu Berlin archives (1986) of the original description. A dark olive green shirt is described as well as the elimination of the ‘crack’ in the floor (lower left). The crack has been misportrayed as a floor separation rather than the actual crack in the glass negative creating an illusion in the final B&W print.
Old School - Research in Depth Noel Baron contacted the state museum organization, Prussian Cultural Heritage (Staatlich Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz) inquiring about any information on obtaining a color photo, artist's copy or transparency of the Caravaggio's first rendition “Matthew and the Angle” created prior to its destruction. Research indicates that Noel may have indeed been the first person to faithfully recreated the Caravaggio with the best possible descriptive input available, in color. You may see the description in German and translation in letters to Noel, supplied by the museum.
