This painting was created by the Dutch artist in Rome where he lived for 18 years and dates from the early period of his career. It presents an episode in the life of the apostle Paul. Saul, an ardent persecutor of the Christians, was struck blind by a bright light on the way to Damascus and heard a voice asking him why he was behaving in that way. In Damascus he was cured of his blindness by the Christian Ananias and became a passionate adherent of the new faith. The moment chosen by Bramer is unusual for European painting — soldiers support the blinded Saul while a servant restrains his horse. More commonly artists depicted Saul prostrated on the ground. The painting was executed on slate (not used as a base for works in the Netherlands) which has a dark colour eminently suitable for nocturnal scenes. Bramer left large parts of the slate uncovered and in his modelling of the figures and objects restricted himself to indicating the areas of light. In this work one can clearly sense the influence of the Italian artist Agostino Tassi who mainly worked as a fresco painter. This painting and a second presumed biblical scene by Bramer were acquired for Catherine II as part of the Crozat collection in 1772.