Healing of the Man Born Blind (El Greco, Parma) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Healing of the Man Born Blind |
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| Artist | El Greco |
| Year | c.1573 |
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 50 cm × 61 cm (20 in × 24 in) |
| Location | Galleria nazionale di Parma |
Healing of the Man Born Blind is a famous painting created around 1573 by the artist El Greco. It shows a story from the Bible where Jesus heals a man who was born blind. Today, you can see this painting at the Galleria nazionale di Parma in Italy. El Greco signed his name on the bottom right corner of the artwork. This painting was actually the second time El Greco painted this same powerful scene.
The Story Behind the Painting
This painting was likely ordered directly from El Greco by a very important person. This person was Cardinal Alessandro Farnese. A cardinal is a high-ranking official in the Catholic Church. El Greco had moved to Venice in 1570. He was introduced to Cardinal Farnese by Giulio Clovio, another artist who worked for the Farnese family. The cardinal's librarian, Fulvio Orsini, also admired El Greco's work.
Farnese Family Portraits
One big reason we think Cardinal Farnese ordered this painting is because it includes portraits of members of the Farnese family. These family portraits are not in El Greco's other two paintings of the same subject. One of these other paintings is in Dresden, Germany. The other is in New York City, USA.
In the Parma painting, you can see some famous faces. One person in the group on the left looks like Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma. He was a powerful military leader. In the middle of the line, you might spot Cardinal Ranuccio Farnese. He was another important church leader. His portrait was painted after he had passed away.
Journey to Parma
In 1662, the painting was sent to Parma, Italy. It was hung in the Farnese palace called Palazzo del Giardino. At that time, people mistakenly thought the painting was made by another famous artist, Tintoretto. Later, in 1862, the painting moved to its current home at the Galleria nazionale di Parma.
See also
In Spanish: La curación del ciego (El Greco, Parma) para niños
- List of works by El Greco
