Gospel in Art: Feast of Saint Matthias

Saint Matthias, Workshop of Simone Martini (1284-1344), Tempera on wood, gold ground © Metropolitan Museum, New York

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 14 May 2024
John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

Reflection on the painting

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Matthias. In the Acts of the Apostles chapter 1, Matthias is chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve apostles. After Judas's betrayal and death, the remaining eleven decided to select a replacement to restore their number to twelve. They prayed for guidance and, when they then cast lots, Matthias was chosen to join the apostolic group. This event is described in Acts 1:15-26. Although Matthias is not mentioned in the Gospels, Acts says that he had been with Jesus from his Baptism until his Ascension, so he did know Jesus and his apostles really well and was, like them, a witness to the Resurrection.

Our painted panel today, executed around 1317 in Siena, would have been part of a predella of a large altarpiece or a row of paintings depicting also the other 11 apostles. Therefore Matthias was probably placed on the left side, gazing downwards towards the altar to the right. The Bible he is holding is also pointing in that direction. This is a good example of when a painting interacts with the space outside the painting itself: there is here a beautiful interaction between art and the liturgy of the Eucharist taking place beneath the painted panels.

According to the legend, St. Matthias preached in Judea. He was tried before the High Priest and condemned to be stoned to death. When this miraculously failed, he was killed with an axe. So in art he is often depicted with an axe, but when painted as part of an altarpiece such as is the case here, he is usually depicted holding the Bible, as a gentler image.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-15-9-17-2024-2/