Italian or Spanish Mannerist school; 16th century."The Conversion of Saint Paul.Oil on panel.It presents xylophagous remains.Measurements: 53,5 x 79,5 cm.In a landscape format, the artist of this work focuses his attention on a very close-up, starring the bust of a man riding on his horse. At first sight it could be a work with a genre theme, but the presence of the break of glory in the sky and the gesture adopted by the protagonist indicate to us as spectators that we are looking at the image of the conversion of St. Paul. Even so, the artist has avoided the traditional depiction of Paul's conversion, with the saint falling off his horse, thus creating an interesting scenographic representation. Paul was a Hellenised Jew from the Diaspora, born in Tarsus. He was therefore Jewish by ethnicity, Greek by culture and Roman by nationality. He received the name Saul, which he changed to Paul after his conversion. Born at the beginning of the first century, he studied in Jerusalem under the rabbi Gamaliel, who would have been noted for his hatred of Christians. One day, when he was on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus around the year 35, he was dazzled by lightning and fell from his horse. Then he heard the voice of Jesus saying to him: "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? As a result of this experience, the saint went from persecutor to zealot of Christianity.Due to its technical characteristics, such as the modelling of the forms, the type of composition, and even the aesthetic details used in the treatment of the fabrics that make up the image, this work can be classified as part of the Mannerist school. During the 16th century, as a result of the introduction of the novelties of the Italian Renaissance, the Flemish style evolved towards a more classical and sculptural style, while retaining its own characteristics. This change also affected the Hispano-Flemish school, which also had independent channels for the penetration of the Italian style. Influences mainly came to Spain from Raphael and his followers, through engravings, oil paintings and painters who travelled between the two countries, and for this reason there was a synergy of aesthetic influences that brought the Italian and Spanish schools closer together, as this particular piece shows.