The Assumption of the Virgin
Domenico Theotokópoulos, called El Greco
This painting was the central element of an altarpiece that was El Greco’s first major Spanish commission and large public work. The Virgin floats upward on the crescent moon, a symbol of her purity, while the apostles express amazement and concern. El Greco’s broad brushstrokes and bold color made this painting a favorite of modern artists such as Pablo Picasso and Mary Cassatt.
Colors in this work
Details
- Date
- 1577–79
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 403.2 × 211.8 cm (158 3/4 × 83 7/16 in.); Framed: 461.6 × 256.5 × 14 cm (181 3/4 × 101 × 5 9/16 in.)
- Origin
- Greece
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture of Europe
- Holding institution
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Palette
-
Select a color to find related artworks.
- Image provider
- art-institute-chicago
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Credit
- Gift of Nancy Atwood Sprague in memory of Albert Arnold Sprague
Art Genome Taxonomy
12 tags
Subject Matter
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Deities and Holy Figures Both · 100%
The subject is the Assumption of the Virgin, and the image centers on Mary as a holy figure rising above the apostles.
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Bible Story Both · 90%
The museum identifies the work as a biblical Christian subject, while the image presents a sacred narrative involving the Virgin Mary, apostles, angels, and heaven.
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Saints Metadata · 94%
The catalog’s subject data includes saints, and the earthly zone is populated by apostles.
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Mortality Metadata · 93%
The catalog lists death among the subjects and connects the commission’s imagery to the church’s funerary function and themes of death and salvation.
Styles and Movements
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Mannerism Metadata · 100%
Mannerism is explicitly listed among the supplied museum styles.
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Renaissance Art Metadata · 98%
Renaissance is explicitly listed among the supplied museum styles.
Visual Qualities
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Dynamism Visual · 98%
Raised arms, turning bodies, varied poses, and upward-directed gestures create a strongly animated composition, particularly among the apostles.
Medium and Techniques
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Altarpiece Metadata · 99%
The museum catalog identifies the work as the central image of an altarpiece made for the Church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo.
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Oil Painting Metadata · 100%
The museum record specifies oil on canvas.
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Large-Scale Painting Metadata · 99%
The painting measures 403.2 × 211.8 cm, supporting its classification as a large-scale painting.
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Large Brushstrokes/Loose Brushwork Both · 99%
The catalog describes El Greco’s broad, free brushwork, which is visibly apparent in the figures, draperies, clouds, and architectural forms.
Time Periods
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16th Century Art Metadata · 100%
The work is dated 1577–79, placing it in the sixteenth century.
Source & rights
Domenico Theotokópoulos, called El Greco. The Assumption of the Virgin. The Art Institute of Chicago.
High-resolution sources
- IIIF image service ↗ 1,686 × 3,225 · Art Institute Chicago · Availability not yet probed