Patrick’s foot is so prominent in the painting that I first worried about it’s awkwardness but now I feel it may be one of the most important parts of the painting.
I realized that the prominent display of Patrick’s foot pointing toward the viewer is not much different than Caravaggio’s first painting of Saint Matthew and the Angel. Comparing Saint Matthew with Patrick’s personality, his job in landscaping, his clothing and his sun hardened skin there seems to be a reversal of roles between these two paintings. While Caravaggio is bringing Saint Matthew down to earth, I wonder if I’m elevating Patrick in making the comparison, or at least opening my eyes to the possibility that Patrick could possible a saint, or that we all could be saints, or as important as one.
