Description
The painting St Martin and the Beggar by the artist El Greco is a masterpiece that stands out for its unique artistic style and masterful composition. The work depicts Saint Martin of Tours, a French saint known for his charity and generosity, who meets a beggar on the street and shares his cloak with him.
El Greco's artistic style is characterized by the elongation of the figures and the use of intense and dramatic colours. In this painting, the artist uses a cold and dark color palette to create an atmosphere of sadness and poverty. The figure of the beggar is represented with great detail and realism, while Saint Martin is presented in a more abstract and spiritual way.
The composition of the painting is impressive, with a diagonal that divides the work into two parts. At the top, Saint Martin is on horseback, while at the bottom, we see the kneeling beggar with the saint's cloak over him. The figure of the horse is rendered with great detail and elegance, demonstrating the artist's ability to capture the beauty of animals.
The history of the painting is interesting, as it was commissioned by the Hospital de la Caridad de Illescas in Spain in the 16th century. The work was done to decorate the hospital chapel and to inspire patients to be more charitable and generous.
A little-known aspect of the painting is that El Greco made several versions of the same work, with small variations in composition and color. The original version, measuring 193 x 103 cm, is currently in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.
In short, El Greco's painting St Martin and the Beggar is a masterpiece that stands out for its unique artistic style, masterful composition, and interesting story. It is a work that inspires charity and generosity, and that remains relevant and moving today.