Space in El Greco’s works

Authors

  • Leonid D. Raigorodski Saint Petersburg State University

Abstract

The article suggests the analysis of artistic method of a great Spanish artist — El Greco (1541–1614). Greek by birth, he spent his early years on the island of Crete and began his career as an icon painter. He lived in Italy for some time where he studied art as a student of Titian. However his unique artistic style formed in Toledo, Spain, where he moved around 1577. A characteristic of many of his works is that the source of light cannot be identified. The light flashes feverishly in several spots at the same time. And the space itself in El Greco’s paintings is completely unusual. He would build his space as whimsical layers of contrasting spots of colour and light, which reflects some very sophisticated processes in his spiritual world. The article suggests the analysis of some paintings by El Greco: “The Agony in the Garden”, “The Opening of the Fifth Seal”, “The Visitation”, “The Holy Family”, “Toledo”.

Keywords:

El Greco’s works, “The Agony in the Garden”, “The Opening of the Fifth Seal”, “The Visitation”, “The Holy Family”, “Toledo”

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Leonid D. Raigorodski, Saint Petersburg State University

PhD, professor of the Department of Design of the Faculty of Arts at the Saint Petersburg State University, artist-restorer of the high category

References

Литература

1. Troutman Ph. El Greco. London; New York; Sydney; Toronto: Paul Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1963. 89 р. (The Сolour Library of Art.)

2. Hodge G. P., Ravin J. G. Did El Greco have astigmatism? // Univ. Mich. Med. Cent. J. 1967. Vol. XXXIII. Р. 131–134.

3. Каптерева Т. П. Эль Греко. М.: Искусство, 1965. 196 c.

References

1. Troutman Ph. El Greco. London; New York; Sydney; Toronto: Paul Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1963. 89 p. (The Solour Library of Art.)

2. Hodge G. P., Ravin J. G. Did El Greco have astigmatism? Univ. Mich. Med. Cent. J. 1967. Vol. XXXIII. P. 131–134.

3. Kaptereva T. P. El' Greko. M.: Iskusstvo, 1965. 196 c.

Downloads

Published

2014-11-28

How to Cite

Raigorodski, L. D. . (2014). Space in El Greco’s works. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Arts, 4(4), 96–105. Retrieved from https://artsjournal.spbu.ru/article/view/4534

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 4 (2014)

Section

Visual arts

License

Articles of "Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Arts" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.