Description
El Greco's painting "San Bernardino" is a 16th-century masterpiece noted for its unique artistic style and impressive composition. The painting, which measures 269 x 144 cm, shows Saint Bernardino of Siena in a majestic and elegant pose, with a serene and pious expression on his face.
El Greco's artistic style is very evident in this work, with his use of long, stylized forms and bright, vibrant colours. The artist manages to create a sense of depth and movement in the painting, with the saint at the center of the image and the surrounding characters in dynamic and expressive poses.
The coloring of the painting is impressive, with intense shades of red, blue, green and yellow that combine in a harmonious and balanced way. El Greco also masterfully uses light and shadow, creating a dramatic effect that highlights the figure of the saint and the details of his clothing and accessories.
The history of the painting is interesting, as it was commissioned by the Order of the Discalced Franciscans of Toledo in 1599. The painting was originally placed on the main altar of the church of San Juan de los Reyes in Toledo, where it remained until it was removed. transferred to the Prado Museum in Madrid in the 19th century.
Also, a little known aspect of the painting is that El Greco included an image of himself in the work, in the figure of the man with a hat that is in the background of the image. This is one more example of the artist's ingenuity and creativity, who managed to create a work of art that continues to be admired and studied to this day.