Saint Matthew

Simone Martini

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a man from the waist up, facing us. The man has pale yellow skin, rosy cheeks, a long, straight nose, brown eyes, a full gray beard, and wavy gray hair. He wears a light red garment with intricate designs along the neckline under a pale green outer cloak. In his left hand, he holds an open red book and a black inkpot. His right hand holds a quill pen. A halo with a detailed pattern surrounds the man's head. The background is a gold surface within an arched black wooden frame.