Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple (El Greco, Washington) facts for kids

Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple is a famous painting by a Spanish artist named El Greco. He painted it in 1568. Today, you can see this artwork at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in the United States. The painting shows an important event from the life of Jesus. It's about Jesus clearing out the temple.

What is This Painting About?

This painting shows a story from the Bible. In the story, Jesus goes to the Temple in Jerusalem. He finds people selling animals and exchanging money there. Jesus gets upset because the Temple is a holy place for prayer. He believes it should not be used for business. So, he drives out the merchants and money changers. This event is often called the "Cleansing of the Temple."

Who Was El Greco?

El Greco was a very important artist. His real name was Doménikos Theotokópoulos. He was born in Crete, which is now part of Greece. He later moved to Spain and became famous for his unique painting style. El Greco's art often features tall, stretched-out figures and dramatic colors. He painted many religious scenes and portraits.

Many Versions of One Painting

Did you know that El Greco painted this scene more than once? There are actually a few different versions of Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple. The one in Washington, D.C., is from 1568. Other versions exist in different museums around the world. For example, there is a similar painting in the National Gallery in London. Art experts have studied these paintings to understand how El Greco's style changed over time. Each version shows the same powerful story, but with small differences in how the artist painted it.

See also

In Spanish: La expulsión de los mercaderes (El Greco, Washington) para niños

• List of works by El Greco