kids encyclopedia robot

The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice
Martirio de San Mauricio El Greco.jpg
Artist El Greco
Year 1580-1582
Medium oil on canvas
Dimensions 445 cm × 294 cm (175 in × 116 in)
Location Monasterio de El Escorial, Madrid

The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice is a 1580-1582 painting by El Greco in the Real Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial near Madrid.

History

A painting on this subject had originally been commissioned from Juan Fernández Navarrete by Philip II of Spain as an altarpiece dedicated to Saint Maurice and his Theban Legion. After Navarrete's death in 1579, Philip transferred the commission to El Greco, who had recently established himself in Toledo. The king saw the completed work in 1583, on his return from Portugal, and was unhappy with it.

Description of painting

Maurice is shown in a blue breastplate and red tunic in the right foreground, surrounded by the officers of his legion while they decide whether to sacrifice to the pagan gods or accept martyrdom. To Maurice's left Saint Exuperius holds a red banner. Next to him is a bearded man in a tunic, identified as James the Less, who had converted the whole of Maurice's legion to Christianity. Between Maurice and the banner-bearer are two figures modelled on Spanish soldiers of the time - the elder one is Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, commander of the Spanish troops at the Battle of St. Quentin in 1557 and Grand Master of the Military Order of Saint Maurice. To Emmanuel's right (closer to Maurice) is Alessandro Farnese, then fighting against the Dutch Republic.

The martyrdom occurs in the left background, including a figure modelled on Charles V's illegitimate son Don John of Austria, victor of the battle of Lepanto. In the left upper background angels wait to welcome the martyrs into heaven.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: El martirio de san Mauricio (El Greco) para niños

  • List of works by El Greco
kids search engine
The Martyrdom of Saint Maurice Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.