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In keeping with iconographic tradition, the Virgin turns in surprise at the arrival of the Archangel Gabriel and the Holy Ghost. This work is very close, compositionally and stylistically, to the Annunciation of the Modena Triptych, but it is not known whether it is a sketch for that work, or an autograph reduction. Probably painted in Venice just before 1570, this piece seems to be inspired by th
The pyramidal composition and the monumental character of the figure are similar to those of Saint Benedict (P-817), also in the Prado. An exceptional depiction of this saint from Lisbon holding a spray of white lilies in his right hand. In his left hand is a book with a small image of the Christ Child, a later addition that adapts this painting to the most common iconography of this Franciscan sa
This scene of a young man blowing on burning embers was already developed by El Greco in Italy. Here, the motif is complicated by a mischievous young man and a monkey. This possible allegory of sexual desire may also be inspired by a classical work that was often used at that time, Pliny the Elder´s Natural History. The lighting effects and color contrasts show how the Bassano influenced El Greco,
The Heavenly Father, with an Eastern Miter on his head, holds the body of Christ in his lap. The dove of the Holy Ghost appears over his head, while six young angels surround the scene. Several cherubs´ heads appear at Jesus´ feet and under God the Father´s robes. Based on an engraving by Albrecht Dürer, this was one of El Greco´s first commissioned pieces in Toledo. The artist harmonizes the
El Greco executed various versions of the Holy Face on the Veil of Veronica, an iconographic motif that became very popular at the end of the Middle Ages. According to the story that developed during the medieval period, on His way to Calvary a woman offered Jesus a white cloth to wipe the sweat and blood from His brow, and the features of His face became imprinted on the cloth. There is no biblic
The Virgin Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven by God the Father and Jesus Christ at the same time. The Holy Ghost, appears above them in the form of a dove, occupying the upper vertex of a rhombus formed by the four figures. This work is based on a print by Albrecht Dürer. Various similar versions of it exist, including the one painted for the parish church of Talavera la Vieja (Cáceres),
Under a sky filled with leaden-gray storm clouds, Saint Andrew and Saint Francis of Assisi stand next to each other in conversation. The apostle appears on the viewer’s left, wearing a cobalt blue tunic and green robes whose purple silk lining has grey reflections. He faces the viewer and leans on his characteristic x-shaped cross, turning his head to his left, where Saint Francis stands. The latt
A slightly more than half-length image of Jesus wearing a red tunic and blue robes. Holding the cross with both hands, he rests it on his left shoulder. His head is slightly raised and his watery eyes bear a serene, resigned expression as he looks to the heavens. The crown of thorns on his head is reinforced by a luminous rhomboidal halo. The precisely rendered crown shows each of the tender, inte
Series of paintings representing the twelve Apostles, sometimes known as apostolados, were a common sub-genre in the religious painting of the Spanish Siglo de Oro. Such images could be part of altarpieces, and were also often used to decorate the walls of monasteries, convents, and private homes. This painting shows St. John the Evangelist, the author of the last of the four Gospels and the book
This work is part of an apostolate from the Church of Almadrones, Guadalajara, which repeats the model of the Apostolates at Toledo Cathedral and the Museum-House of El Greco in that same city with very few variations. The Museo del Prado has four canvases from this series -The Savior, Saint James (P02890), Saint Thomas (P02891) and Saint Paul (P02892)- all of which perceptibly include the partici
This work is part of an apostolate from the Church of Almadrones, Guadalajara, which repeats the model of the Apostolates at Toledo Cathedral and the Museum-House of El Greco in that same city with very few variations. The Museo del Prado has four canvases from this series -The Savior, Saint James (P02890), Saint Thomas (P02891) and Saint Paul (P02892)- all of which perceptibly include the partici
This work is part of an apostolate from the Church of Almadrones, Guadalajara, which repeats the model of the Apostolates at Toledo Cathedral and the Museum-House of El Greco in that same city with very few variations. The Museo del Prado has four canvases from this series -The Savior, Saint James (P02890), Saint Thomas (P02891) and Saint Paul (P02892)- all of which perceptibly include the partici
This work is part of an apostolate from the Church of Almadrones, Guadalajara, which repeats the model of the Apostolates at Toledo Cathedral and the Museum-House of El Greco in that same city with very few variations. The Museo del Prado has four canvases from this series -The Savior (P02889), Saint James (P02890), Saint Thomas (P02891) and Saint Paul- all of which perceptibly include the partici
