First commissions in Spain (1576-80)
by EL GRECO

El Greco left Rome to find in Spain the patronage that had eluded him in Rome. He had hopes of working for Philip II who was then actively recruiting painters to work at the Escorial. The Adoration of the Name of Jesus must certainly have been made for Philip II, but no documents refer to a commission. The first commission came from the Cathedral of Toledo, for the Disrobing of Christ, the first masterpiece of the artist. The large Martyrdom of St Maurice was commissioned by Philip II, late 1570 or early 1580, for the chapel of the Saint in the church of the Escorial.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 4 minutes):
Tomás Luis de Victoria: O Domine Jesu, motet

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
The Disrobing of Christ (El Espolio)
1577-79
Oil on canvas
Sacristy of the Cathedral, Toledo

900*1199
True Color
182 Kb



The Disrobing of Christ (El Espolio)
1577-79
Oil on canvas, 285 x 173 cm
Sacristy of the Cathedral, Toledo

850*1438
True Color
201 Kb



The Disrobing of Christ (El Espolio)
1577-79
Oil on panel, 55,6 x 34,7 cm
Bearsted Collection, Upton House, Warwickshire

800*1376
True Color
202 Kb



The Adoration of the Name of Jesus
1578-79
Oil on canvas, 140 x 110 cm
Chapter House, Monasterio de San Lorenzo, El Escorial

850*1083
True Color
194 Kb



The Adoration of the Name of Jesus
1578-80
Oil and tempera on pine panel, 55,1 x 33,8 cm (excluding the painted black border)
National Gallery, London

780*1263
True Color
195 Kb



The Adoration of the Name of Jesus (detail)
1578-80
Oil and tempera on pine panel
National Gallery, London

920*971
True Color
190 Kb



The Adoration of the Name of Jesus (detail)
1578-80
Oil and tempera on pine panel, detail size 29 x 24 cm
National Gallery, London

850*1031
True Color
176 Kb



The Adoration of the Name of Jesus (detail)
late 1570s
Oil and tempera on pine panel, detail size 29 x 24 cm
National Gallery, London

800*961
True Color
160 Kb



The Martyrdom of St Maurice
1580-81
Oil on canvas, 448 x 301 cm
Chapter House, Monasterio de San Lorenzo, El Escorial

850*1281
True Color
178 Kb



The Martyrdom of St Maurice (detail)
1580-81
Oil on canvas, detail size 125 x 103 cm
Chapter House, Monasterio de San Lorenzo, El Escorial

900*1087
True Color
182 Kb



The Martyrdom of St Maurice and his Legions (detail)
1580-81
Oil on canvas
Chapter House, Monasterio de San Lorenzo, El Escorial

527*823
True Color
103 Kb




Summary of paintings by El Greco
Crete: before 1567 | Venice: 1567-70 | Rome: 1570-75
Spain
1576-80 (page 1) (page 2) | 1581-85 | 1586-90 | 1591-95 | 1596-1600
Santo Domingo: 1577-79 | Count Orgaz: 1586-88 | Colegio: 1596-1600
Capilla San José: 1597-99 | Illescas: 1603-05 | Apostolado: 1610-14
c. 1600 | 1601-05 | 1606-10 | c. 1610 | after 1610
Oballe Chapel: 1608-13 | Hospital Tavera: 1608-14 | Drawings | Sculptures
Subjects
| Apostles | Saints | Christ | Portraits |