The Burial of the Count of Orgaz

"The Burial of the Count of Orgaz," painted by El Greco in 1586, was commissioned for the Church of Santo Tomé in Toledo, Spain, to commemorate the miraculous interment of Don Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, the Count of Orgaz, by Saints Augustine and Stephen. The artwork is renowned for its synthesis of Byzantine and Western artistic traditions, its dramatic use of color and light, and its complex composition that juxtaposes the earthly and heavenly realms.

"The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" by El Greco, measuring 480 cm by 360 cm, is a monumental oil on canvas that depicts the miraculous burial of Don Gonzalo Ruíz, Count of Orgaz, with a composition divided into two distinct realms: the earthly and the heavenly. The lower section features a detailed and somber portrayal of the funeral scene with richly dressed figures and a luminous depiction of the count's body, while the upper section transitions into a celestial vision filled with elongated, ethereal figures and vibrant colors, illustrating the ascent of the soul.