A Vessel to be Filled: Caravaggio’s “Conversion of St. Paul” in Santa Maria del Popolo

Caravaggio’s Conversion of Saint Paul in Santa Maria del Popolo is a strikingly intimate version of the story, derived from a close reading of Act of the Apostles and supported by exegesis. In particular, Augustine’s sermons were recognized by Cesare Baronio, Caravaggio’s contemporary, as relevant to Paul’s conversion, with one supplying the memorable image of Paul as a vessel that should be filled with grace. Paul as cup is a figure that presupposes a larger sense, derived again from Augustine, that the self dissolves as it converts. The result is a new creation, which is how Paul himself described his experience. Drawing on recent studies of the performative nature of conversion, the chapter explores Caravaggio’s deep conception of Paul’s experience.