I like this. I became aware of Caravaggio recently in Rome and now I see how disctinct his style is. Black background, Biblical scenes in “modern” outfits. The Drama. The freeze frame of an intense moment in time. And I think always characters or objects are sticking out towards the viewer.
So what’s happening in this scene? What’s the story?
The painting depicts this moment recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, except Caravaggio has Saul falling off a horse (which is not mentioned in the story) on the road to Damascus, seeing a blinding light and hearing the voice of Jesus. For Saul this is a moment of intense religious ecstasy: he is lying on the ground, supine, eyes shut, with his legs spread and his arms raised upward as if embracing his vision.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_on_the_Way_to_Damascus
Also, the full title is The Conversion of Saint Paul on the Way to Damascus. There was another one that was just titled The Conversion of Saint Paul that his patron didn’t like.
So basically the guy who invented Christianity did it after suffering head trauma. Makes a lot of sense. I’m surprised they didn’t burn the painter guy at the stake.
Also, the full title is The Conversion of Saint Paul on the Way to Damascus.
Ah thank you for pointing that out. I’ve updated the the post title.
