El Greco created a number of Christ on the Cross paintings throughout his life. Many examples of the type seen here with its dramatic background filled with black, roiling clouds, can be found amongst the works of both El Greco and his followers. The background motifs, namely the combination of figures on horseback and buildings, were rendered in various different combinations. In all instances, however, the figure of Christ is shown in elongated form, and the elegant curve of his body along with his facial expression reveal more religious ecstasy than suffering. The church seen on the distant hill is San Lorenzo Monastery, constructed in El Escorial by Phillip II. The selection of this background element is particularly fascinating given that El Greco was estranged from Phillip II and was not commissioned by him to participate in the decoration of that monastery. Paintings of Christ on the Cross by El Greco with the same depiction of the figure of Christ and background exist in many large and small variations, located today throughout the world. One of these works, a large-scale image today in the Cleveland Museum of Art, is particularly impressive. However, the Cleveland image background shows only the tops of a forest and the tower of San Lorenzo Monastery, without any inclusion of the figures on horseback riding up a hill or skull and bones. These factors indicate that the Cleveland work was not the model for the NMWA work. This painting was created sometime after El Greco's arrival in Spain, when he had switched from his more corporeal images to an elongated, thin human proportion, a stronger flow to his curving lines and his almost impressionistic, rough brushstrokes. Given these various characteristics, this work can probably be considered a late period work, although it is quite hard to definitely confirm that the painting is by El Greco himself. It is clear that the fluttering drapery of Christ's loincloth is not by El Greco himself, and there is a dryness about the other brushwork overall that differs from another high-quality small-scale version (Ex-Gutzwiller Family, Paris). Further, there is some loss of sharpness in the expression of the background sky, an area in which El Greco excelled. If El Greco's hand is apparent in this work, it is only a bit, and overall the work should be considered a high-quality workshop production. Further research is needed on this question of attribution. (Source: Masterpieces of the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, 2009, cat. no. 23)
- Title: Christ on the Cross
- Creator Lifespan: 1541 - 1614
- Creator Nationality: Spanish
- Creator Gender: Male
- Creator Death Place: Toledo
- Creator Birth Place: Candia
- Date Created: Undated
- Location Created: Spain
- Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings: Signed lower center: domhnïkos / qeotokopulos / epoiei
- Provenance: Duc d'Albe; Bernheim-Jeune, Paris, 1926; Hermann Eisner, Wien; Wildenstein, New York, 1961; Wildenstein Tokyo, Tokyo, 1973.
- Physical Dimensions: w610 x h955 mm
- Painter: El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos, called)
- Object title (Japanese): 十字架のキリスト
- Object notes (Japanese): エル・グレコは生涯に幾度も「キリストの磔刑」を描いた。その中でも特に本作品のように、突如黒雲に覆われて行くドラマティックな空をバックにした単身像としての「十字架のキリスト」は、グレコ自身によって、また彼の工房作として数多く制作された。それらは背景のモティーフ、すなわち騎乗する人物と建築物の組み合わせに従って種々のヴァリエーションを作っている。しかし、いずれの場合もキリストの身体は長く引き伸ばされ、その優雅な逆S字型曲線は、顔の表情と相まって苦悩よりはむしろ法悦の様を表わしている。本作品の背景の丘の上に遠望されるのは、フェリーペ二世がエル・エスコリアールに建てたサン・ロレンソ修道院である。グレコがフェリーペ二世に疎んじられ、同修道院の装飾事業に参加できなかったことを思えば、この背景の選択には興味深いものがある。本作品とキリストの姿および背景を同じくする《十字架のキリスト》は、大小さまざまな異作が世界各地にあるが、それらの作品のなかではクリーヴランド美術館の大作が最も高い質を誇る。ただし、それは下部にわずかに森の上端とサン・ロレンソ修道院の塔を見せるだけで、坂を登って行く騎士の姿や髑髏は当初から描かれてはいないことから、本作品の原画であったとは考えられない。本作品では、スペイン到着後しばらく見られた逞しい肉体表現に代わって細長い人体比例と流麗な曲線が強調され、また、いわゆる印象主義的な粗い筆致が用いられている。これらの特徴から考えれば晩年の作品ということになるが、これをグレコの真筆と断定することはかなり難しい。煩雑な腰布がグレコによるものでないことは明らかであり、全体のタッチも他の質の高い小型ヴァージョン（グーツヴィラー旧蔵）とは異なり乾いている。また、グレコが得意とした背後の空の表現もやや鋭さに欠ける。グレコの手が入っているとしてもおそらくごく僅かであり、全体的には質の高い工房作と考えるべきではないだろうか。この点については、いっそうの調査と研究が必要である。（出典: 国立西洋美術館名作選. 東京, 国立西洋美術館, 2006. cat. no. 23）
- Artist Name (Japanese): グレコ、エル（本名ドメニコス・テオトコプーロス）
- Type: Paintings
- Rights: http://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/information/privacy.html
- Medium: Oil on canvas
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With Giclée printing technology, we are able to provide the best possible quality for the reproduction of fine art masterpieces as well as your personal photos. Our prints capture the subtlest of colors and contrasts, while retaining superb image sharpness.
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