GRECO, El
(b. 1541, Candia, d. 1614, Toledo)

The Veil of St Veronica

1580-82
Oil on canvas, 51 x 66 cm
Private collection

El Greco reproduces illusionistically the cloth with which Veronica wiped Christ's face on the way to Calvary. It is a simple piece of white cloth decorated with a geometric design, its two upper corners nailed to what is presumably a board forming the dark background. Imprinted on the cloth, the face of Christ wearing a crown of thorns stares out at the viewer. Christ's face is painted in a manner reminiscent of Byzantine iconography.

El Greco treated the theme of the veil of Veronica several times.