Latest news with #ElGreco
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Sacred Mysteries: The flaming heart of Pope Leo's spirituality
I very much like a picture painted in about 1650 by Philippe de Champaigne. It shows a bare-headed bishop in an extravagant cope (echoing the cope of St Augustine in El Greco's Burial of the Count of Orgaz, from 70 years earlier). He sits, pen poised in the air, looking up at a ray of light from an incandescent cloud labelled Veritas, Truth. His left hand holds a human heart on fire, its flames drawn, as if by a draught, towards his head. It's a very Baroque painting. This too is St Augustine of Hippo (354-430), a huge influence on Western Christianity. A flaming heart features on the coat of arms of Pope Leo, whose life has been as an Augustinian missionary. Here the heart is pierced with an arrow. That image illustrates part of Augustine's incomparable autobiography, the Confessions (10: 6): Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo – 'You have pierced my heart with your Word.' My Loeb edition has percussisti, 'struck' not 'pierced', but with the same effect: 'And I have loved you.' 'But what then is it that I love when I love thee?' asked Augustine, in Richard Challoner's translation from 1739. 'Neither the Beauty of the Body, nor the graceful Order of Time, nor the Brightness of Light, so agreeable to these Eyes, nor the sweet Melody of all Sorts of Musick, nor the fragrant Scents of Flowers, Oils and Spices, nor the sweet Taste of Manna or Honey, nor fair Limbs alluring to carnal Embraces. None of these Things do I love, when I love my God. And yet I love a certain Light, and a certain Voice, and a certain Fragrancy, and a certain Food, and a certain Embrace, when I love my God: the Light, the Voice, the Fragrancy, the Food, and the Embrace of my inward Man.' So he goes on, in his questioning, gradual way. Pope Leo has simply adjusted the coat of arms which as a bishop he was expected to have. I don't want to go on about heraldry, which can be offputting in its technicality, but, as in stage directions, left and right are accounted from the shield-holder's point of view, so dexter is on the left from the spectator's viewpoint, and sinister on the right. The Pope's shield is divided party per bend sinister, as I think heralds would say, split diagonally from the sinister top corner. In the upper, azure part, an argent fleur-de-lys stands for the Virgin Mary. Pope John Paul II had the letter M with the same function, which some held to be less heraldically correct. The motto under the shield is In Illo uno unum, 'In the One, we are one.' The phrase is taken from St Augustine's Expositions on the Psalms, commenting on Psalm 127 (128 in the Book of Common Prayer) and explaining that 'although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one', a sentence based on St Paul's Epistle to the Romans (12:5). 'How are we many, and yet one?' asks Augustine. 'Because we cling unto him whose members we are; and since our Head is in heaven, his members may follow.' All this might sound a bit arbitrary, but Pope Leo's personal spirituality is an Augustinian approach to Jesus Christ, the centre and goal of Christianity. Pope Benedict XVI shared this Augustinian outlook. Implicitly all Latin-rite, Anglican or Nonconformist Christians do. Interpreting Augustine left divisions too. Philippe de Champaigne's daughter joined Port Royal convent in Paris, which developed Jansenist habits of thought and piety. He painted a moving picture of her sitting on a not very comfortable chair, cured from paralysis.
Wall Street Journal
16-04-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
‘El Greco. Santo Domingo el Antiguo' Review: Awe-Inspiring Altarpieces
Madrid The conventual church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo, Spain, played a crucial role in the life and work of Doménikos Theotokópoulos, better known as El Greco. It was there that the painter received his first major Spanish commission, a complex series of altarpiece paintings. Thirty-seven years later, he was buried there, watched over by one of his final works.
Los Angeles Times
24-02-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Madrid Uncovered: The Spanish Capital Shines this Spring
Madrid, the city of dynamism in Spain, offers an enthralling mix of tradition and contemporary delights. The city offers diverse attractions for everyone, such as world-famous museums, old quarters, vibrant marketplaces, and lively tapas restaurants. Begin your trip by stopping by the world-renowned Prado Museum, where an extensive collection of paintings by various European masters is on exhibit. Inside this world-class building, visitors may view paintings by El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya, artwork representative of multiple time periods. The sublime architecture and carefully planned rooms of the building only contribute to the visit, making it a necessary stop for any art lover. Enter the noble world of the Royal Palace, official residence of Spanish royalty. Take a stroll through its magnificent rooms, marvel at the sumptuous décor, and do not miss visiting the Royal Armoury, an interesting collection of historical weapons. The palace is an excellent source of insights into Spanish monarchical history and way of life. One may flee the city's hectic pace in Retiro Park, Madrid's version of New York City's Central Park. The urban haven offers an ideal atmosphere for an afternoon stroll, boat trip on the pond, or quiet afternoon under the trees. The Crystal Palace, with an innovative glass structure, adds to the peace in the park by injecting an aura of wonder. The lively atmosphere of Puerta del Sol, Madrid's thriving city center, is quite evident. The activity in the plaza is perpetual, and the atmosphere is lively, giving visitors a view of the symbolic clock, Kilometer Zero, and an uninterrupted parade of passers-by. The place is a perfect venue to feel the city's atmosphere and, if possible, to watch street performers. The picturesque old world ambiance of Plaza Mayor is typified by the handsome building structureswith balconies. The charming plaza is an excellent place to watch passers-by while having Spanish food in any of their countless restaurants. The monolithic structure and lively atmosphere of plaza make it a point of interest for visitors and local inhabitants. Investigate the lesser-known routes and unveil Madrid's hidden gems. The Sorolla Museum, including both the artwork and living space of artist Joaquín Sorolla, offers an intimate view of his life and artwork. In addition, the Sorolla Museum gives insights into his professional and personal life. Discover tranquility in El Parque de El Capricho, a charming park on Madrid's outskirts. Its gardens, stately palace, and fanciful architecture make the park an oasis of peace. The park's historical and natural beauty makes it a hidden jewel. The vibrant multiculturalism in Lavapiés features a range of restaurants with international flavor, street life, and an energizing multicultural atmosphere. The mixed population, in combination with the bohemian culture in the neighborhood offers a global feel in a small part of the city. Immerse yourself in Mercado de San Miguel's sensual delights, an old-time food market filled to the brim with Spanish delights. From seafood to craft cheesemongering and divine desserts, the market is a veritable foodie's paradise. The colorful ambiance and picturesque wrought-iron-laced architecture only heighten its allure. Take time to visit and marvel at Temple of Debod, an Egyptian temple given to Spain. These Spanish riches embodied in such an asset are truly noteworthy, and most of all, at sunset, where colors in water reverberate, giving rise to an atmosphere which enriches the surrounding scene. The fusion of monument and landscape makes for a perfect way to take in Madrid. -Aj Moutra
New York Times
07-02-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
An El Greco Is Pulled From an Auction as Romania Objects
Christie's pulled from its old masters auction this week a painting by El Greco that the Romanian government says is part of its national art collection but was removed from the country in 1947. That year, the country's last king, Michael I, went into exile after being forced from power by Communist forces. The painting, 'Saint Sebastian,' depicting the body of its subject pierced by arrows, was created in the early 1600s and was estimated by Christie's to fetch $7 million to $9 million at auction. It now joins decades of legal battles waged by Romanian government officials who have said Michael removed cultural patrimony in the form of dozens of valuable paintings when he was forced to abdicate after World War II. The government regards the paintings as state property, not the former king's personal possessions. Christie's said in its catalog that the work was transferred to Michael in 1947 'with the accord' of the Romanian government. 'Christie's takes these matters seriously and out of an abundance of caution is withdrawing the lot at this time,' the auction house said in a statement. 'We look forward to selling this unique and spectacular work at a later date.' News of the painting's withdrawal was earlier reported by Romania Journal. In response to questions, an official at the Romanian Embassy in Washington pointed to a statement that the country's prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, had posted on Facebook in Romanian. Ciolacu said Romania was pursuing the recovery of the El Greco, which was scheduled for an auction in New York, through litigation in Paris. The painting was 'of inestimable value' and 'unequivocally the property of the Romanian state,' he wrote. 'After decades, it's time for this irreplaceable painting to return to where it belongs, to the national art collection and to the Romanian people,' he added. According to the Christie's catalog, 'Saint Sebastian' was possibly in El Greco's studio in Toledo, Spain, at the time of his death in 1614. The provenance said it was then in possession of the artist's son before being acquired by King Carol I of Romania, probably by 1898. The following year, the provenance said, Carol I bequeathed the work to the institution of the Romanian Crown, which received the painting after the king's death in 1914 and held on to it until 1947. That year, according to the provenance, the Romanian government allowed possession of the painting to transfer to Michael, who had ascended to the throne at the age of 18 amid the chaos of World War II. Michael altered history in 1944, at 22, when he arrested Ion Antonescu, the fascist dictator of Romania and an ally of Hitler's. Antonescu was then locked in a vault where Michael's father, King Carol II, who was forced into abdication by General Antonescu in 1940, had once kept the royal stamp collection. Soon afterward, Michael renounced Romania's connection to the Axis powers and turned Romanian divisions against the Nazis, inflicting severe losses. Some historians believe that those actions helped shorten the war and saved tens of thousands of lives. By 1947, however, Communists tied to Stalin controlled Romania. Michael said the country's prime minister, Petru Groza, threatened to execute 1,000 imprisoned students if he did not give up the throne. On Dec. 30, 1947, Michael left Romania via train with more than 30 family members and friends, issuing a decree that said the monarchy was an obstacle to the country's future. While in exile, Michael and his wife, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, lived mainly in Geneva. The Romanian government eventually came to believe that six weeks before he abdicated, Michael removed 40 paintings from the country on a trip on the Orient Express to attend the wedding in Britain of his cousin Philip to Princess Elizabeth, the future queen. He deposited some at a Swiss bank and left others in Florence, the lawyers for the government maintained. Michael sold 'Saint Sebastian' in 1976, according to the Christie's provenance, and the painting was acquired by its present unnamed owner in 2010 through the art dealers Giraud Pissarro Segalot. By that time Romanian officials had already begun efforts to obtain works they said Michael had taken. In 1985, the country's Communist regime filed a lawsuit against the art dealers Wildenstein & Co. in Federal District Court in Manhattan seeking two El Greco paintings that it said were sold by Michael through the gallery. That case was dismissed when Romania did not comply with discovery orders from the court. A successor government sued Michael in State Supreme Court in Manhattan in 1993, asking for the return of works by El Greco, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Breughel and others. That suit, too, was dismissed.
