The Conversion of Saint Paul
c. 1544
Tintoretto throws us right into the middle of a chaotic, divine traffic jam! Saul (soon to be Saint Paul) is dramatically knocked off his horse by a blinding light from heaven, while soldiers and steeds scramble in panic around him. This swirling, high-energy scene is a perfect example of Mannerism, where Tintoretto ditched calm balance for wild, emotional drama. Legend has it Tintoretto painted so fast and furiously that rivals called him 'Il Furioso,' and you can definitely feel that frantic energy in every flailing limb and rearing horse.