The artwork “Conversion on the Way to Damascus,” created by Caravaggio around 1600-1601 in Rome, Italy, is an oil on canvas painting measuring 230 cm by 176 cm. It is a religious painting following the Baroque and Tenebrism art movements and is currently located at Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome, Italy.
In this dramatic depiction, Caravaggio illustrates the moment of Saint Paul’s conversion as described in the New Testament. The scene shows Paul lying on the ground, having been thrown from his horse. He is depicted in a vulnerable state, with his arms spread out and his eyes closed, as if he is struck by the blinding light of divine revelation. Above him is the large, detailed figure of the horse, carefully rendered with attention to musculature and light, accompanied by a dimly visible groom or soldier who seems almost unperturbed by the miraculous event.
Caravaggio’s use of tenebrism is evident in the stark contrast between light and shadow, guiding the viewer’s focus to the central figure of Paul and the emotional intensity of his experience. The composition is tight and diagonal, creating a sense of immediacy and movement. The overall mood is one of dramatic tension and spiritual fervor, which characterizes many of Caravaggio’s religious works.