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Primary sourcePaintingc. 1603-1606

The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew

Caravaggio · c. 1603-1606

A Caravaggio painting purchased by Charles I in 1637, later sold during the Commonwealth and recovered for the Royal Collection.

Charles I purchased this Caravaggio in 1637; it remains in the Royal Collection after being recovered at the Restoration.

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Painting of three men in a dim interior. On the left, an old white-haired man in a yellow-ochre cloak points toward a bearded man behind him. On the right, a younger man in pink and blue robes gestures toward himself.
Caravaggio, The Calling of Saints Peter and Andrew, c. 1603-1606. Royal Collection.

About this source

What it is

This painting by Caravaggio, made around 1603-06, shows Christ calling the brothers Simon (Peter) and Andrew to become his disciples, based on a passage from the Gospel of Matthew. It is now in the Royal Collection.

Why it matters

Charles I, an avid art collector, purchased the painting in 1637. It was sold off during the Commonwealth period after his execution but was reacquired by his son Charles II after the Restoration. For many years it was thought to be a copy, until restoration work in 2006 confirmed it as an authentic Caravaggio, showing how attributions and the value of artworks can change with new research.

Look closer

  • What details in the figures' poses and gestures show the moment of being called to follow Christ?
  • Why might a painting be mistaken for a copy for so long, and what changed that judgement?
  • What does the painting's history of being sold and later recovered tell you about the fate of royal collections after a king's execution?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Charles I on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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