Artwork
Saint John the Evangelist
Saint John the Evangelist is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist El Greco. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Schorr Collection.
About this work
Overview
Saint John the Evangelist is a religious oil painting created by El Greco in 1600, now part of the collection at the Fitzwilliam Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays John the Evangelist, a key figure in Christian theology, depicted in contemplative pose, conveying introspection and spiritual depth through his facial expression and posture.
Technique & Style
El Greco employs chiaroscuro, juxtaposing a deep, shadowy black background with pronounced lighting on the subject's face and hands, achieving a three-dimensional effect on the skin.
History & Provenance
Created in 1600, the work is currently housed at the Fitzwilliam Museum, with its historical ownership trail not detailed in available information.
Context
Painted during the late phase of El Greco's career, this work reflects the artist's ongoing exploration of religious themes and his distinctive application of chiaroscuro, characteristic of late Renaissance/early Baroque artistic innovations.
Legacy
As part of El Greco's oeuvre, Saint John the Evangelist contributes to the artist's reputation for expressive, spiritually charged depictions of religious figures, influencing subsequent generations of artists in their treatment of light and shadow.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Doménikos Theotokópoulos was born in 1541 in Candia (modern Heraklion), the capital of Venetian-ruled Crete, where he was trained in the post-Byzantine tradition of icon painting.
