In 1603 El Greco received the commission for a new altarpiece for the Hospital de la Caridad, Illescas. The commission included the decoration of the whole chapel, including the design for the retable and the provision of sculptures as well as paintings of the Madonna of Charity, Coronation of the Virgin, Annunciation and Nativity. The contract stipulated that the altarpiece should be in place by 31 August 1604. However, the work was completed only by 4 August 1605, and a bitter and lengthy litigation started over the price which ended with compromise in March 1607.
Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 22 minutes): Thomas Tallis: Mass (Puer natus est) |
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 | |