Pietà

c. 1570

El Greco

Associated Names
El Greco

Artist, Greek, 1541 - 1614

The artwork depicts a scene with three figures. In the center, a muscular, partially nude figure is seated, leaning into the arms of another person. The central figure’s head is tilted to the side, eyes closed. To the right, a seated figure with a covered head gently supports the central figure, looking down. Above them, another figure with wings leans over. The background is a plain, earthy tone, enhancing the focus on the figures. The use of light and shadow, along with the soft contours, is present in the image.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink and brown wash over black chalk on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of David H. McDonnell

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 24.4 × 16.6 cm (9 5/8 × 6 9/16 in.)
    mount: 29.5 × 22.8 cm (11 5/8 × 9 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2016.54.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Private collection; (sale, Sotheby's London, 8 July 2015, no. 28); David McDonnell, Arlington; gift to NGA, 2016.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2018

  • Drawing in Tintoretto's Venice, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2018 - 2019, no. 64 (fig. 140), repro.

Bibliography

2007

  • Turner, Nicholas. "A Proposal for El Greco as a Draftsman" Master Drawings 45, 299 and 301, fig. 14.

2018

  • Marciari, John.Drawing in Tintoretto's Venice. Exh. cat. Morgan Library & Museum, New York; National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2018-2019, 174, no. 64 (fig. 140)

Inscriptions

by later hand in graphite, lower right verso of mount: 121 / 474

Wikidata ID

Q64536811

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