Shortly after El Greco completed the high altar for the church of the Colegio de Doña María de Aragón (Madrid), Juan Pantoja de la Cruz executed these two canvases, which were to flank El Greco’s work. While primarily known as a portraitist, Pantoja also produced notable religious compositions such as the present monumental figures, which are imbued with a dynamism and expressivity that conforms to the style favoured at the Spanish Court around 1600. The resolute, compassionate faces reveal Pantoja’s finest manner, which enjoyed notable success in Madrid at this period. The difference between these works and El Greco’s approach allows for an appreciation of the latter’s remarkable originality in comparison to his contemporaries.