Adoration of the Holy Name of Jesus explained

Adoration of the Holy Name of Jesus
Height Metric:140
Width Metric:110
Medium:oil on canvas
Museum:Monasterio de El Escorial
City:Madrid
Artist:El Greco
Year:1577-1579

Adoration of the Holy Name of Jesus is a 1577-1579 oil on canvas painting by El Greco, produced early in his Toledo period and now in the Monasterio de El Escorial in Madrid. It is also known in modern scholarship as La Gloria, The Dream of Philip II or Allegory of the Holy League.

Description

The piece depicts the nominal "adoration of the Holy Name of Jesus. Beside Philip II are Pope Pius V and doge Sebastiano Venier, founders of the Holy League, and Don John of Austria, victor of the battle of Lepanto, all kneeling and worshipping the Holy Name of Jesus in the upper register, where it is surrounded by angels. In the bottom right is a hell-mouth in the form of Leviathan, influenced by Hieronymus Bosch. The colouring also shows the influence of the Venetian school and Michelangelo on the artist.

Production

Some art historians believe it is the first work commissioned from the artist by Philip II of Spain, who is shown at the bottom centre of the work. The National Gallery, London holds a preparatory sketch for it.

See also

Bibliography