The calling of St John during the marriage at Cana

Unknown artist

c. 1530 - c. 1532

oil on panel

Rijksmuseum

A group of people are gathered around a table for a meal, with one person playing a lute. The scene is dimly lit, with a focus on the faces and interactions of the individuals. In this night scene – a novelty in painting at the time – Vermeyen succeeded in creating a dramatic effect. Candlelight plays over the faces and casts dark shadows. For the flames, Vermeyen used gold leaf. He was well ahead of his time: only around 1600 did the nocturn as a genre become more widely known through the Italian artist Caravaggio.