“The Trinity”
This large-scale oil on canvas painting titled “The Trinity” is by the Greek artist of the Spanish Renaissance, El Greco, and was painted between 1577 and 1579. This piece is part of a series of paintings that El Greco created for the Santo Domingo el Antiguo church in Toledo, Spain. It was commissioned by the Dean of Toledo, Diego de Castilla, and was one of his first commissioned works in Toledo. In fact, El Greco began it the same year he moved to Toledo, Spain.
“The Trinity” was hung in the attic of the high altarpiece above “The Assumption”, which is another work by El Greco. When the painting was revealed, it was highly praised by critics and the public alike and earned El Greco many more commissions. It remained in possession of the church until 1832 when it was purchased by the King of Spain, Fernando VII.
This painting depicts Jesus as he is ascending into Heaven. The Holy Trinity is represented by God the Father, Jesus the son, and a dove as the Holy Spirit. God the Father is depicted holding Jesus’s broken body. He wears an Eastern style Miter on top of his head. Jesus’s body is also being supported by several cherubs at his feet and behind his back. The dove is above everyone descending from heaven.
What’s interesting is that while the influence of Michelangelo is clearly seen in this piece in the musculature of the figures, El Greco was outspoken against Michelangelo’s style, saying that “he was a good man, but he did not know how to paint”. Titian’s influence can be seen in the overall color palette of the piece.
“The Trinity” is currently in the collections of the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, Spain.
For more on El Greco, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
