The Burial of the Count of Orgaz - 1586
The Burial of the Count of Orgaz
El Greco
Object record
Genre
Culture
Spanish
Period
Mannerism
Date
1586
About
El Greco, the Greek-born artist of the late Spanish Renaissance, drew inspiration from a 14th-century legend and Counter-Reformation ideals for this monumental work. It depicts the burial of the titular count in a dramatic composition that unites the earthly and heavenly realms. His Mannerist signature style features elongated figures, twisting poses, vivid unnatural colors, spiritual light, and flattened space that heighten the painting’s mystical intensity.
Alternate title
El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz
Signature(s)
Signed on the handkerchief in the lower-left figure’s pocket, with the date 1578.
Inscription(s)
A Latin epitaph appears on the wall below the painting in the church
Type of work
altarpiece, History painting
Material
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
H: 480 x W: 360 cm
Collection
Provenance
Commissioned in 1586 by Andrés Núñez de Madrid for the Church of Santo Tomé in Toledo, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz was completed by El Greco in 1588 and has remained in situ in the church’s votive chapel ever since.
Institution
Location
Toledo, Spain
Copyright status
Public Domain
References
Creator links
Literature
Tags
El GrecoMannerismreligious paintingSpanish art
