Pittura Storica: El Expolio

Painting: The Disrobing of Christ (orig. Spanish: El Expolio) Artist: (1541-1614) Painted: 1577-1579 Medium: Oil painting on canvas Dimensions: 285 cm × 173 cm Genre: Religious History Painting Movement: Mannerism Location: Cathedral of Toledo

The painting depicts the scene in which Christ is stripped prior to his crucifixion. A Christ, the main figure in the composition, is dressed in a vivid red robe and occupies the central axis of the picture. His central position is emphasized by his serene upward gaze, and by the apparent funnel which seems to open in the clouds above his head. Using a convention of Byzantine art, El Greco simulates a crowd by arranging row upon row of heads. The crowd is jostling, threatening and oppressing Christ, who ignores them as he looks up to heaven. A man dressed in green to whom Christ is attached by a rope is about to remove Christ's scarlet robe, while two others argue over who should have his clothes. Behind Christ, a black-clad figure points at him accusingly, while in front, a man dressed in yellow is drilling a hole in the cross for one of the spikes that will be driven into Christ's body. All the while, the calm serenity and idealized beauty of Christ is in sharp contrast to the rough features, dark looks and violent movements of his executioners.

El Greco clothes all the figures in contemporary dress; the man standing to the left, clad in armor, is probably meant to be Longinus, the Roman centurion in charge – traditionally venerated as a saint – who pierced Christ's side with a lance while he was on the cross. Directly below Longinus, the three Marys observe the scene in agitation and distress.

B The dynamic quality of the scene, expressed by the calm figure of Jesus Christ in the middle of the painting, surrounded on all sides by a turbulent mob of coarse figures, is exquisitely enhanced by El Greco's use of color – namely, the rich red of Christ's robe (a symbol of the divine passion) which contrasts vividly with the mustard yellows below him and the blacks on all sides. Only the ugly caricatures of the faces in Christ Carrying the Cross (1515-16, Museum of Fine Art, Ghent), painted by Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516) – a particular favorite of Philip II – gives equal attention to the contrast between Christ's humility and the bestiality of his persecutors.

Ironically, despite its immense popularity, The Disrobing of Christ was the object of several lawsuits between the artist and the Cathedral authorities, who wished to reduce the agreed price and oblige El Greco to erase the three Marys, whose presence so close to the rabble was deemed inappropriate. In the end, El Greco received only 350 ducats but made no corrections. Taken and adapted from: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/

Reading comprehension

1. Read the sections A and B of the text. Choose the correct answer – a, b, or c.

1. The word disrobing (of Christ) in the text refers to... a) the killing (crucifixion) of Jesus Christ by the robbers b) getting his clothes taken off by the rabble c) the stealing of Christ’s money before his crucifixion

2. According to the text, how many persons are quarrelling over who is going to have Christ’s clothes? a) one b) two c) four

3. What is in sharp contrast in the painting? a) dark looks and violent movements of his executioners b) idealized beauty of Christ and rough features of his executioners c) rough features and violent movements of his executioners

4. “Longinus (...) pierced Christ's side with a lance (...).” What did he, in other words, do? a) He stabbed Christ with a spear. b) He robbed Christ with a spear. c) He disrobed Christ with a spear.

5. What would be the best summary of the last paragraph? a) El Greco received less money but won the trial. b) El Greco lost the trial but received the promised money. c) El Greco lost the trial and the money.

6. Which of the following persons is NOT depicted in the painting at all? a) A black -clad figure pointing at Christ accusingly b) A yellow -clad figure drilling a hole in the cross c) A red -clad figure removing Christ's scarlet robe

2. Read the sections A and B of the text. Choose the correct answer – T (true), F (false), or DS (doesn’t say).

1. One of the three Marys is Mary, Christ’s mother’s sister. T / F / DS

2. The dynamic quality of the scene is exquisitely enhanced by El Greco's use of color. T / F / DS

3. Hieronymus Bosch painted the ugly caricatures of the faces in Christ Carrying the Cross. T / F / DS

4. El Greco had problems with the law because of Christ’s clothes in the painting. T / F / DS

5. The painting was made in one more copy without corrections. T / F / DS

6. The painting became popular only after El Greco died. T / F / DS

Follow-up

Music and Fine Arts

Musicians are often inspired by works of art. What the Water Gave Me (Lo que el agua me dio in Spanish) is an oil painting by Frida Kahlo that was completed in 1938. The painting inspired Florence Welch of the Florence and the Machine to write a song with the same name in 2011. Welch decided to give the name to the song after viewing the Frida Kahlo work. The painting’s disturbing scene of people drowning in a bathtub is reflected in the song’s lyrics.

A) Search the web: study the painting, listen to the song. Share your impressions with the class. B) Name more examples of songs inspired by visual artworks and artists.