Subjects of Spanish Paintings
By Artists El Greco and Velazquez of the 16th and 17th Centuries
Q. What is the central angel in El Greco’s “Burial of Count Orgaz” (1586-1588) doing?
A. Transporting the Count’s soul to heaven.
This painting by Spanish master El Greco is clearly divided into two zones: the heavenly above and the earthly below. In this work, the artist portrays the soul of Count Orgaz (the baby figure in the middle of the painting assisted by the central angel) ascending to heaven while his body is being lowered into a coffin. The figures holding the Count's body are the spirits of Saint Augustine (San Agustin) on the right with miter and bishop's cloak, while Saint Stephen (San Esteban) is the young deacon on the left. In the bottom left corner of the painting there is a small child pointing at San Esteban's sleeve. The model for this child is El Greco's son. The only other figure in the painting who is actually looking out of the painting, toward the viewer, is El Greco himself. He is in the back row and he appears above an upraised hand immediately above the head of San Esteban.
The painting illustrates a popular legend that is supposed to have occurred in 1312. The devout Count Orgaz, whose real name was Don Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, was a religious man respected for his humility. The Count had been involved in founding a convent dedicated to San Agustin and had left provisions in his will for a dedication of a church to San Esteban. At the moment of his burial, a miracle occurred as the two saints appeared and laid the Count to rest in his grave.
Today the work can be seen at Santo Tome in Toledo – the chapel, indeed the supposed scene of the legendary event, for which it was ordered and where it has remained since its creation.
Q. What is Justin of Nassau in Diego Velazquez’s “Surrender of Breda” (c. 1635) doing?
A. Presenting the key of the city of Breda to the Spanish commander, Ambrogio Spinola.
Justinus van Nassau (1559-1631) was a Dutch army commander known for failing to defend Breda in the Netherlands against the Spanish. In 1625 he had to surrender Breda to Ambrogio Spinola Doria, an Italian general in the service of Spain, after a siege of 11 months. The depiction of his surrender has been made famous in this painting by Spanish master Diego Velazquez (1599-1660).
Velazquez was a leading portrait artist and was court painter for King Philip IV.
Today the painting can be viewed at the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
Sources:
- Bailey, Colin J. The Art Quiz Book: 2000+ Questions on Painters and Paintings. Station Press: Scotland, 1995.
- Grove Dictionary of Art. Oxford University Press, 2008.
