The Conversion of St Paul [2]

A rather chaotic painting with all those legs diverting the attention from the figure lying on the ground, who in addition has to do without the usual illuminating beam from heaven by which we know that he is the main character of the scene.

The man is Saul, Roman citizen traveling to Damascus, who has just seen a vision of Jesus. For the rest of his life he will be known as Paul, founder of the Church of Rome.

Caravaggio made another painting on the same subject, in the same period.

The Conversion was made for for the Cerasi Chapel in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, where it still is today. Across the chapel is Caravaggio's Crucifixion of Peter.