The Blinding of Elymas
Raphael painted this dramatic scene in the Vatican's Stanza di Eliodoro around 1515, depicting the biblical moment when the Apostle Paul blinds the sorcerer Elymas for opposing his teachings. The composition is incredibly dynamic, with Paul's commanding gesture contrasting sharply with Elymas's stumbling, blinded figure. Fun fact: Raphael included a self-portrait here! Look at the far right, the man with the dark beard and intense gaze watching the scene unfold—that's Raphael himself, cheekily inserting himself into this prestigious papal commission.
- Technique
- Fresco
Location: Vatican Museums
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