The National Museum of the Prado has inaugurated a surprising exhibition that brings together for the first time the set of works created by El Greco for the church of the Monastery of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo. The exhibition highlights the relevance of this prominent painter, who arrived in Spain in 1577 and had the privilege of receiving significant commissions, including the monumental work “The Disrobing” and the altarpieces for this Cistercian monastery, one of the oldest in the city.
The new church of the monastery, inaugurated in 1579, was financed by Doña María de Silva and Diego de Castilla, who were looking for a burial place that honored their legacy. The dean of the cathedral, Diego de Castilla, contacted El Greco to take charge of creating the main altarpiece and two lateral ones, following the recommendation of his son, Luis de Castilla, who had met the painter in Rome.
The challenge that El Greco took on was monumental, as he had to design the structure of the three altarpieces, in addition to adding five sculptures and eight canvases. His work on this project renewed the conception of the Castilian altarpiece by incorporating an innovative design that used a large canvas with the theme of The Assumption for the main altarpiece, subordinating the other paintings to this central piece.
The altarpieces include representations of four saints on the sides: St. John the Baptist, St. John the Evangelist, St. Bernard, and St. Benedict, as well as the powerful image of The Trinity at the top. A coat of arms that was above the central painting was later covered by another of his famous works, The Holy Face.
The completion of these commissions in 1579 was received with great admiration, consolidating El Greco as a master in the composition of large-format works that merged Italian influence in his figures and bright colors. This exhibition at the Prado not only highlights his art but also reaffirms his status as one of the most prominent artists of his time, leaving a lasting legacy in art history.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
