Italian school, possibly MATTHÄUS GUNDELACH; first half of the 17th century.

Italian school, possibly MATTHÄUS GUNDELACH; first half of the 17th century.
"The Conversion of St. Paul."
Oil on canvas. Relined.
It has traces of signature in the lower right corner.
Measurements: 120 x 165 cm; 134 x 179,5 cm (frame).
This conversion of St. Paul is fully situated in the context of the early Baroque, in full harmony with the ideals of the Counter-Reformation. The painting represents the decisive moment of the biblical episode in which Saul, knocked off his horse, is struck by the divine light that will transform his destiny, a theme especially appreciated in the 17th century for its dramatic intensity.
Aesthetically it reflects a sensibility typical of artists active in Italy but trained or influenced by Central European traditions, where Italian naturalism is combined with a marked bodily expressiveness. In this sense, the painting shows clear affinities with the production of Matthäus Gundelach, a painter of Germanic origin active in Italy, whose works are characterized by dense compositions, dynamic scenographies and a special attention to the violent movement of bodies and animals. The foreshortened horses, tense and unbridled, are directly reminiscent of the models used by Gundelach in his battle scenes and biblical episodes.