{"id":2983,"date":"2025-07-21T06:22:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T04:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stage.barberinicorsini.org\/evento\/conversion-of-saul\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T16:48:48","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T15:48:48","slug":"conversion-of-saul","status":"publish","type":"evento","link":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/evento\/conversion-of-saul\/","title":{"rendered":"Caravaggio. Conversion of Saul"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the <\/span><\/span>heels<\/span><\/span> of the success of the <\/span><\/span>exhibition<\/span><\/span> Caravaggio 2025<\/span><\/span>, the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>announce<\/span><\/span> the extension of the <\/span><\/span>exhibition<\/span><\/span> of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Conversion of Saul<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>the<\/span><\/span> famous<\/span><\/span> altarpiece<\/span><\/span>by\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Michelangelo Merisi<\/span><\/span>\u00a0da\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Caravaggio<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>also<\/span><\/span> known<\/span><\/span> as<\/span><\/span>the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Odescalchi <\/span><\/span>Alt<\/span><\/span>arpiece<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The painting <\/span><\/span>will<\/span><\/span> remain<\/span><\/span> on public <\/span><\/span>view<\/span><\/span> at<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Palazzo Barberin<\/span><\/span>i<\/span><\/span>\u00a0from <\/span><\/span>July<\/span><\/span> 24 <\/span><\/span>until<\/span><\/span> Sept<\/span><\/span>ember<\/span><\/span> 30, 2025.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The work <\/span><\/span>will<\/span><\/span> be <\/span><\/span>placed<\/span><\/span> in the <\/span><\/span>Landscape<\/span><\/span> Room on the <\/span><\/span>museum\u2019s<\/span><\/span>main<\/span><\/span> floor<\/span><\/span>, in <\/span><\/span>dialogue<\/span><\/span> with a <\/span><\/span>very<\/span><\/span> high-<\/span><\/span>definition<\/span><\/span> reproduction<\/span><\/span> of the <\/span><\/span>other<\/span><\/span> version<\/span><\/span> of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Conversion<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>painted<\/span><\/span> for the Cerasi Chapel in the <\/span><\/span>church<\/span><\/span> of\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Santa Maria del Popolo<\/span><\/span>, Rome.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span><\/span>comparison<\/span><\/span> between<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>two<\/span><\/span> versions<\/span><\/span> allows<\/span><\/span> an in-<\/span><\/span>depth<\/span><\/span>study of <\/span><\/span>Merisi\u2019s<\/span><\/span> visual <\/span><\/span>language<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>stylistic<\/span><\/span> evolution<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>restoring<\/span><\/span>a picture of the <\/span><\/span>transformations<\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span>his<\/span><\/span> pictorial<\/span><\/span> conception<\/span><\/span>between<\/span><\/span> narrative <\/span><\/span>tension<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>introspection<\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span>spirituality<\/span><\/span>. The <\/span><\/span>altarpiece<\/span><\/span> known<\/span><\/span> as<\/span><\/span> the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Pala\u00a0Odescalchi<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>painted<\/span><\/span> on panel, <\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span>distinguished<\/span><\/span> by the <\/span><\/span>movement<\/span><\/span> within<\/span><\/span> the scene, the <\/span><\/span>variety<\/span><\/span> of <\/span><\/span>characters<\/span><\/span> and the use of <\/span><\/span>bright<\/span><\/span> colors. The <\/span><\/span>approach<\/span><\/span> of the <\/span><\/span>later<\/span><\/span>canvas, <\/span><\/span>now<\/span><\/span> in the Roman <\/span><\/span>church<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span> different<\/span><\/span>, more <\/span><\/span>essential<\/span><\/span> in <\/span><\/span>composition<\/span><\/span> and more intense in <\/span><\/span>emotional<\/span><\/span> register<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Conversion of Saul<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>was<\/span><\/span> originally<\/span><\/span> commissioned<\/span><\/span> in 1600, <\/span><\/span>when<\/span><\/span> banker Tiberio Cerasi <\/span><\/span>commissioned<\/span><\/span> Caravaggio to make <\/span><\/span>two<\/span><\/span> paintings for the family <\/span><\/span>chapel<\/span><\/span> in the <\/span><\/span>church<\/span><\/span> of Santa Maria del Popolo. <\/span><\/span>However<\/span><\/span>, for <\/span><\/span>reasons<\/span><\/span> still<\/span><\/span> being<\/span><\/span> studied<\/span><\/span>, the works <\/span><\/span>were<\/span><\/span> never<\/span><\/span> placed<\/span><\/span> in the <\/span><\/span>chapel<\/span><\/span>. The <\/span><\/span>painter<\/span><\/span> executed<\/span><\/span> two<\/span><\/span> new <\/span><\/span>versions<\/span><\/span>, on canvas, <\/span><\/span>which<\/span><\/span> can <\/span><\/span>still<\/span><\/span> be <\/span><\/span>seen<\/span><\/span> there<\/span><\/span> today<\/span><\/span> and are <\/span><\/span>owned<\/span><\/span> by the Fondo Edifici di Culto. The <\/span><\/span>original<\/span><\/span> altarpiece<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>however<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>passed<\/span><\/span> from hand to hand <\/span><\/span>before<\/span><\/span> entering<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>collection<\/span><\/span>of Nicoletta Odescalchi, the <\/span><\/span>current<\/span><\/span> owner<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span><\/span>exhibition<\/span><\/span> in Palazzo Barberini <\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span> also<\/span><\/span> enriched<\/span><\/span> with an <\/span><\/span>important<\/span><\/span> technical and <\/span><\/span>scientific<\/span><\/span> apparatus<\/span><\/span>. In <\/span><\/span>fact<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>next<\/span><\/span> to the <\/span><\/span>two<\/span><\/span> versions<\/span><\/span> of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Conversion<\/span><\/span>, a copy of the <\/span><\/span>infrared<\/span><\/span>reflectography<\/span><\/span> made in 2006 <\/span><\/span>during<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>work\u2019s<\/span><\/span> restoration<\/span><\/span> will<\/span><\/span> be on display. The <\/span><\/span>reflectography<\/span><\/span> makes <\/span><\/span>it<\/span><\/span> possible<\/span><\/span> to <\/span><\/span>analyze<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>preparatory<\/span><\/span> structure<\/span><\/span> of the painting and the executive steps, <\/span><\/span>offering<\/span><\/span> an <\/span><\/span>opportunity<\/span><\/span> to <\/span><\/span>understand<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>artist\u2019s<\/span><\/span> working <\/span><\/span>method<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Particularly<\/span><\/span> relevant<\/span><\/span> is<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>choice<\/span><\/span> of support: <\/span><\/span>seven<\/span><\/span> horizontal<\/span><\/span>planks<\/span><\/span> of <\/span><\/span>cypress<\/span><\/span> wood<\/span><\/span>, with a <\/span><\/span>perimeter<\/span><\/span> band <\/span><\/span>added<\/span><\/span> at<\/span><\/span> a <\/span><\/span>later<\/span><\/span>date. An <\/span><\/span>unusual<\/span><\/span> base for Caravaggio, <\/span><\/span>who<\/span><\/span> did<\/span><\/span> not<\/span><\/span> employ<\/span><\/span> the <\/span><\/span>traditional<\/span><\/span> dark imprimitura to match the <\/span><\/span>surface<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>but<\/span><\/span> opted<\/span><\/span> for a light gray ground spread <\/span><\/span>diagonally<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>designed<\/span><\/span> to simulate the grain of the canvas.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Investigations<\/span><\/span> revealed<\/span><\/span> numerous<\/span><\/span> modifications<\/span><\/span> during<\/span><\/span> execution<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>Paul\u2019s<\/span><\/span> face, the <\/span><\/span>expressive<\/span><\/span> focus of the painting, <\/span><\/span>was<\/span><\/span> varied<\/span><\/span>several<\/span><\/span> times; Christ, in the first draft, <\/span><\/span>appeared<\/span><\/span> beardless<\/span><\/span>; <\/span><\/span>differences<\/span><\/span> can be <\/span><\/span>seen<\/span><\/span> in the <\/span><\/span>weapons<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>vegetation<\/span><\/span>, and decorative <\/span><\/span>elements<\/span><\/span> that<\/span><\/span> make up the background. The painting <\/span><\/span>is<\/span><\/span> also<\/span><\/span>striking<\/span><\/span> for the <\/span><\/span>quality<\/span><\/span> of <\/span><\/span>its<\/span><\/span> materials<\/span><\/span>; Caravaggio <\/span><\/span>uses<\/span><\/span> pigments<\/span><\/span>rare in <\/span><\/span>his<\/span><\/span> usual<\/span><\/span> palette, <\/span><\/span>such<\/span><\/span> as<\/span><\/span> azurite<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>gold<\/span><\/span>, and silver, <\/span><\/span>contributing<\/span><\/span> to an <\/span><\/span>even<\/span><\/span> brighter<\/span><\/span> and more <\/span><\/span>vibrant<\/span><\/span> paint<\/span><\/span> surface<\/span><\/span>. The high-<\/span><\/span>definition<\/span><\/span> reproduction<\/span><\/span> of the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Conversion of Saul<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>preserved<\/span><\/span> in the Cerasi Chapel <\/span><\/span>was<\/span><\/span> created<\/span><\/span>by\u00a0HALTADEFINIZIONE, thanks to the <\/span><\/span>collaboration<\/span><\/span> with the Fondo Edifici di Culto, an <\/span><\/span>internal<\/span><\/span> structure<\/span><\/span> of the Central <\/span><\/span>Directorate<\/span><\/span> of <\/span><\/span>Religious<\/span><\/span> Affairs of the <\/span><\/span>Ministry<\/span><\/span> of the <\/span><\/span>Interior<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Diagnostic<\/span><\/span> analyses<\/span><\/span> were<\/span><\/span> provided<\/span><\/span> by M.I.D.A., <\/span><\/span>headed<\/span><\/span> by Claudio Falcucci. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The insurance partner for the <\/span><\/span>exhibition<\/span><\/span> is<\/span><\/span> MAG Spa.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On the heels of the success of the exhibition Caravaggio 2025, the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica\u00a0announce the extension of the exhibition of the\u00a0Conversion of …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3808,"template":"","location":[14],"event-categories":[94],"event-tag":[],"class_list":["post-2983","evento","type-evento","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","location-palazzo-barberini","event-categories-mostra"],"acf":{"":null,"inizio_evento":"20250724","fine_evento":"20250930","biglietto_evento":"","disable_button":false,"event_all_day":true,"inizia_alle_event":"","finisce_alle_event":"","test_campo":"","stato_evento":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/evento\/2983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/evento"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/evento"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"event-categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event-categories?post=2983"},{"taxonomy":"event-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/barberinicorsini.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event-tag?post=2983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}