Analysis: The Conversion On The Way To Damascus

The Conversion on the Way to Damascus (commissioned in 1599) is a painting of two men and a horse. Paul is the subject of the painting; he’s traveling with his companion. While on the road Paul and his companion are hit by a light, blinding Paul, causing Paul to fall off of his horse. He hears the voice of Jesus. Paul’s companion also gets hit by the light, holding the reins of the horse so Paul doesn’t get trampled on. In the picture the light is focused on Paul, showing he is overcome with the spirit. His companion is on one side of the horse (this is the dark part of the picture). Paul, dressed like a soldier, is laying on the ground with his arms out straight. The shadow that surrounds Paul’s companion and the beam of light that illuminates Paul is called tenebrim; this adds drama to the painting.

Light was manipulated in Caravaggio paintings to create dramatic effect. Religious paintings were done in Baroque. Baroque was believed to draw people back to the Catholic Church because the church was losing parishioners to Martin Luther’s newly formed protestant church. Caravaggio created the Council of Trent. Cardinal del Monte used his influence to secure Caravaggio.
The painting is of a woman, Marquise De Pompadour, who is a royal mistress to the king (she was the subject of many paintings by Boucher). Marquise wears an elaborate green dress that has ruffles with embroidered pink roses, with matching pink shoes. A pink ribbon is tied in a bow around her neck. She’s glancing away from the book that she is reading. There are gold drapes on the bed post that frames the bed. A hanging mirror displays the back of her head showing an intricate hair design. In the background, to her left, you see a clock and cherub on top of a