On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00809
- Author
- El Greco
- Title
- The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest
- Chronology
- Ca. 1580
- Technique
- Oil
- Support
- Canvas
- Measures
- 81,8 cm x 65,8 cm
- School
- Spanish
- Theme
- Portrait. Civil
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- RoyalCollection
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
A portrait of an unidentified
person wearing a black suit with
lace collar and cuffs and a pendant
and sword that indicate he is a
gentleman. This is one of the
masterpieces of the Spanish
Renaissance and the best known of
El Greco’s works.
Painted during the artist’s first
years in Toledo, Gentleman with his
Hand on his Chest is remarkable for
the expressive gaze its sitter
directs at the viewer, and the
naturalness of the hand’s
gesture.
There are many hypotheses about the
identity of the sitter and the
significance of the painting. Some
see his gesture as a symbol of
repentance, or of a vow and, while
there are reasonable doubts, he
could be identified as Juan de
Silva y Ribera III, Marquis of
Montemayor and mayor of the Alcazar
of Toledo.
This work comes from the country
home of the Duke of Arco in El
Pardo (Madrid).
Listen to the
audioguide
View in Google
EarthLocation on the map
