Popolo Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations
Art History History | Cerasi | Caravaggio Peter | Caravaggio Paul | Chigi Borgia
Caravaggio, “The Conversion of Saint Paul on the Road to Damascus” at the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo
1602 – Oil on canvas, 2.30 m x 1.75 mThis is a stunning painting that surprises the viewer, depicting how Saint Paul the persecutor was touched in his heart and won over by the Lord in such a dramatic way that he fell from his horse.
Conversion of Saint Paul Here he is on the ground, raising his arms to the sky, a sky from which a soft, golden, caressing, enveloping light illuminates his face and the inside of his hands and arms.
He is lying on the ground, his body still expressing surprise, while his face reveals no fear. On the contrary, he appears relaxed, defenceless, his eyes closed.
His gaze has turned inward, discovering his soul.
The only perplexed figure in the painting, his brow furrowed, is his companion, a slave holding Saint Paul's horse by the bridle, who looks at him without understanding and does not even attempt to help him up.
Never mind, Saint Paul is now in God's hands, being reborn to himself, becoming a new man, his soul illuminated.
Here we see a representation of this conversion without action; the action has already taken place, Saint Paul is already on the ground, transformed.
Caravaggio chooses to show Saint Paul dominated, humiliated by the Almighty Universe and even by... his horse.
Caravaggio, The Conversion of Saint Paul A horse occupies almost the entire space, more important in this respect than Saint Paul himself.
Almost as if to show Saint Paul's dual dominion, earthly and universal, he surrenders!
Saint Paul with his eyes closed, blinded by the heavenly light, his blindness beginning at the moment when he begins to see!
An entirely spiritual and salvific representation.
Totally different from the first version rejected by the members of the Confraternity of Santa Maria della Consolazione.
It is believed that the first version of the “conversion of Saint Paul” is the one now in the private collection of Princess Nicoletta Odescalchi (Palazzo Odescalchi in Rome), painted on wood, its dimensions being identical to those in Cerasi's contract.
Caravaggio, The Conversion of Saint Paul In this version, Saint Paul is on the ground, but with his mouth open, screaming in terror, his hands reaching up to cover his face as if he cannot bear the sight of Jesus looking down at him, suspended in the sky by an angel, ready to fall upon him.
Even the soldier accompanying Saint Paul reacts to this apparition, his spear and shield raised towards the sky in a defensive gesture.
Jesus seems to be saying to Saint Paul, with his arms outstretched towards him, "Why are you persecuting me?"
Between these two versions, all of Caravaggio's genius is expressed.
Being able to move from one version to another in less than a year, to versions so different yet so powerful in such a short time, shows the artist's genius, his understanding, his ability to convey a subject, an idea, a moment, to "impress" the viewer with his brush.
Art History History | Cerasi | Caravaggio Peter | Caravaggio Paul | Chigi Borgia
Popolo Art History | Location | Opening Hours Tickets | Authorisations
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