Light and Revelation: Caravaggio’s Double Vision of the Conversion of Saul

At Palazzo Barberini, a rare dialogue between genius and intuition takes shape through the extraordinary pairing of two versions of The Conversion of Saul, one of Caravaggio’s greatest masterpieces. At the heart of the display is the renowned Odescalchi Altarpiece, a vibrant, dynamic composition where the drama of Saul’s collapse unfolds in a swirl of figures, brilliant hues, and theatrical energy. Facing it, a high-resolution reproduction of the later version housed in Santa Maria del Popolo offers a quieter, more introspective take on the same epiphany. This striking juxtaposition allows for a deep reading of Caravaggio’s creative process, further enriched by the inclusion of infrared reflectography carried out during the 2006 restoration. The Odescalchi Altarpiece reveals rare pigments, an unusual light-gray ground preparation, and numerous underdrawings and revisions - traces of an image in motion. A double vision of revelation, suspended between turmoil and silence, theatrical pathos and inner contemplation.