Saint Matthew

Art Historical Context

This exquisite alabaster sculpture of *Saint Matthew*, crafted around 1450–70 in the Southern Netherlands or Northern France captures the Evangelist in a moment of quiet contemplation. Standing just over 34 cm tall (excluding its base), the figure exemplifies the delicate craftsmanship of late workshops, where alabaster's soft, translucent quality allowed sculptors to carve intricate details like flowing robes and expressive features with remarkable finesse. Alabaster was a favored medium in Northern Europe during the 15th century for its affordability and luminous glow, often used for devoti...