MAX7219 and 8X8 LED display problem

Now you really have me puzzled, because it looks like you are using one of the common (eBay) module boards - but you have the chip soldered on one side, and the display on the other.

I am not aware of any board that is intended to be wired that way - from where did you get the board, and which instructions did you use to assemble it?

And what code are you using to test it? What is the pattern supposed to look like? (Post code in "code" - [ # ] icon above the posting window - tags.)