Saint Matthew by Paul Howlett

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This is part of a larger painting, but this painting of mine had a very short life span. I painting an icon for my friend Rick (who is a retired minister), who had submitted a major assignment on icons and orthodoxy during his student days. My friend had been out to the shops and returning home found that a burglary was in progress at his home. He called the police and the drunken burglars were caught in the act. They had stolen a small truck and were stacking it up with Rick's CDs and DVDs. After the police arrived Rick noticed that the painting was missing off the wall. There were two crisscross knife marks in the wall where the painting of St Matthew had been. They had slashed the painting and then jumped on it to make sure that they had totally destroyed it. Reason: The Eyes of St Matthew were following them around the room and pricked their drunken consciences. Both the drunken burglars turned out to have religious training! I take it that was a backhanded compliment to me, for the power of the painting to cause such a reaction! The burglars were charged. Damaged painting taken as evidence.