The Conversion of Paul the Apostle

The painting "La Conversion de San Pablo" or "The Conversion of Paul the Apostle" is one of Antonio Enriquez's liturgical paintings predicated on the biblical event described in Acts 9:1-19. The image delineates Saul of Tarsus' thaumaturgic encounter with Christ while travelling to Damascus when he used to be a Jewish Pharisee and participated in the persecution of Christians, the event had a profound impact on him leading to his metamorphosis into Paul the Apostle. Enriquez chooses to create a dramatic composition showcasing the moment Paul fell off his horse as he was astounded by the miraculous sight unveiling before him. Christ appears through the divine light of heaven as a hierophant guiding Paul to a life of righteousness and devotion. The pictorial field is characterised by dynamic movement, dramatic gestures and a setting possessing an innate presentimentality due to the elaborate colour scheme procured by Enriquez. The light yellow and blue hues working in tandem with faded ochres, reds and browns produce an ambience of the twilight phase of the day oftentimes evoking emotional and contemplative feelings within the experiencer. The artwork is a wonderful example of the mature Novo-Hispanic Baroque tradition and has an immense Christian iconographical and devotional significance. It also accurately represents the style of Antonio Enriquez who worked on such themes while exhibiting this visual language throughout his artistic career.