Wrapped in white, he reaches to the counter.
Bible in art · Matthew
The Calling of Saint Matthew (Vocation de Saint Mathieu)
James Tissot · 1886–1894
Brooklyn Museum, New York
The tax booth stands by a gate where camels and their drivers pass in and out, the place where duties were paid on goods. Matthew sits behind the wooden counter in a yellow robe, with a sign hanging above.
Jesus has walked up to the booth wrapped in white, and lays his hand on the counter. Matthew lifts his hand to his chest, surprised. In the foreground two camels rest on the ground with their harness on.
From the text
- “He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth” (Matthew 9:9)
- “Follow Me,” He told him (Matthew 9:9)
The artist’s own
- The booth by a town gate with a caravan passing
- Resting camels in the foreground
Details
Jesus
Matthew
Behind the counter, in a white cap and yellow robe.
The sign
A painted sign hangs above the booth.
Camels
Two camels lie on the ground in their harness.
James Tissot, French, 1836–1902. Brooklyn Museum, New York (Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.91) · Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper · Brooklyn Museum (Commons file page, «Permission»): "This image was uploaded by the Brooklyn Museum as a content partnership, and is considered to have no known copyright restrictions by the institutions of the Brooklyn Museum." — "No known copyright restrictions".