Caravaggio - Conversion of St Paul |
The conversion of
Saint Paul was an important milestone in the history of Christianity. Paul was
not one of the original 12 apostles, but is considered as the Apostle of the
Gentiles, because after his conversion on the way to Damascus, Paul embarked on
4 missionary voyages, preaching, at times challenging the people to change
their lives, admonitions that are recorded in many of his letters. This painting of Caravaggio shows the scene of his conversion, with Saint Paul on
the ground after he was overpowered with the light that eventually blinded him
for a few weeks, until he was healed by Ananias. The chiaroscuro that
Caravaggio uses in many of his paintings are prevalent here, even though the
scene was supposed to have been highlighted with the light from heaven. Still
the artist wanted to show the darkness in which St Paul was engulfed at that
time, darkness caused by the lack of faith, his hatred of Christians, feelings
that would soon change, thanks to this momentous conversion of this great Apostle.
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