Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer (c. 1600–after 1652) was a Dutch golden age painter, considered being one of the masters of the Utrecht Caravaggism. Besides Stom and Stomer he has been referred to as Matthias Stohom / Stomma, Matheo Schem and Matteo Tomar. Stom spent most of his artistic life in Italy, and 200 of his works have been preserved.
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It is conjectured that Stom was born at Amersfoort or in the Utrecht area, but the details of his life are at times rather vague. An early mention of Stom was around 1630 due to his living in the same location as Paulus Bor had lived a few years earlier. He was a pupil of Gerard van Honthorst in Rome after 1615. He remained in Rome until 1632, after which he traveled to Naples, where he stayed until 1640. He then moved to Palermo, and delivered paintings for churches in Caccamo and Monreale. He sold three paintings to Antonio Ruffo, duke of Messina.[1] It is not known where he died, perhaps in Sicily, but also Northern Italy is a possibility, because in 1652 he painted an altar piece for the church in Chiuduno.[2]
His son or grandson, Mattia (il giovane) Stomer (1649–1702), also was a painter.[3]
Stom was influenced by the Baroque painter Caravaggio and his followers, utilizing their mastery of chiaroscuro. His work typically features religious scenes.[4] He is appreciated for his psychology and claylike treatment of face.[5] He did not initiate the baroque movement like his counterpart Caravaggio, but helped bring it to new heights and splendor.[6]
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