In the Contarelli Chapel of San Luigi dei Francesi, a comparatively unremarkable Roman church, Caravaggio depicted three scenes from the life of St. Matthew. On the left wall, The Calling of St. Matthew, Jesus steps into a tavern and merely points to Matthew, whose initial hesitation at this calling is evident. On the right wall, The Martyrdom of St. Matthew, Matthew becomes a matyr at his death. In the center, The Inspiration of St. Matthew, the elderly Matthew is inspired to write the gospel that bears his name.

Since these enormous and brilliant paintings are on three walls of a chapel, we get a false impression by looking at these three images side-by-side, head on.

They look more like this: