Juan de Pareja (1606-1670) was an Afro-Hispanic painter of the Baroque period. He was born into slavery in Southern Spain and painted as a slave in the studio of the famous Diego Velazquez for two decades. Velazquez freed him from slavery in 1650.

This work is filled with the lush detail of Baroque art. The fabric, some in pattern and some in fluid folds, and the complexity of the setting make this a masterpiece of its time. It is also of note that this artist saw Matthew 9:9 through this very aristocratic, Spanish lens. The tax-collection station is quite grand here! A contrasting detail is the small view of landscape and a blue cloudy sky at the right. This and the light that seems to follow Jesus into the room are more soulful elements of the work.

In The Calling of Saint Matthew, Juan de Pareja seems to tell us a Bible passage within the context of his slavery and his freedom. Do you wonder if this Jesus was in his prayers of thanksgiving for his own calling to art and beauty?

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church