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Which religious subjects did El Greco paint repeatedly?
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El Greco
Burial of the Count de Orgaz, oil on canvas by El Greco, 1586–88; in the church of Santo Tomé, Toledo, Spain.
El Greco, a master of religious art during the Spanish Counter-Reformation, frequently revisited specific devotional themes and figures throughout his career. Among the religious subjects he painted repeatedly were:
- Christ Carrying the Cross: This devotional theme is known in 11 original versions by the artist, alongside numerous copies.1
- The Agony in the Garden: El Greco returned to this subject multiple times, using it to evoke a supernatural world through clashing colors and strange shapes.1
- St. Francis of Assisi: This was the saint most favored by the artist; approximately 25 original paintings of St. Francis survive, with over 100 additional pieces attributed to his followers.1
- Major Saints: He frequently depicted and repeated compositions of figures such as St. Dominic, Mary Magdalen, St. Jerome, and St. Peter.1
- The Apostles: El Greco produced two major series known as Apostolados, which represent Christ and the Twelve Apostles in sets of 13 canvases.1