Christ on the Cross, at the moment of expiration, with the Virgin and Saint
John, and at the foot of the Cross, the Magdalene. Probably originally above the
Annunciation, in the retable of the Colegio of Doña Marνa. This painting and the
Annunciation are the two widest of the series.
Already, in Santo Domingo el Antiguo, the artist had sensibly related
together in composition the two central paintings of the high altar, the
Assumption and Trinity. Again, there is this compositional relationship of the
two paintings, but there is also something more in this bringing together of the
two so diverse yet intimately related themes of the Virgin's reception of the
Holy Ghost, and Christ's giving up of the Holy Ghost. One subject represents one
of the Joys of the Virgin, and the other incorporates one of Her Griefs. Each
painting is divided horizontally in three. The figure of Christ of the
Expiration is a continuation upwards of the central zone of the Annunciation
with the Flames and the Dove; the figure of the Archangel Gabriel has its
counterpart in the figure of Saint John; and the Virgin of Joy appears above as
the Virgin of Grief.
This painting of the Crucifixion is one of the great interpretations of the
subject in painting and almost inevitably brings to mind two other great
Crucifixions, Grόnewald's of the Isenheim Altar and Giotto's of the Arena
Chapel. El Greco has introduced more of those symbols embodying spiritual
emotions: the clamouring angels with outstretched arms encircling the Body of
Christ - strangely recalling Giotto's painting - and the remarkable figure of
the angel at the foot of the Cross.
With this wonderful painting by El Greco I wish you 'Happy Easter'. I am going to church in a while. Wish you a spiritual time till Sunday.
