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1/ Unusually for his time, El Greco (“The Greek”) manipulated form and color for emotional effect, anticipating by centuries the work of the Expressionists. In this painting of Saint Dominic at @mfaboston (ca. 1605), he conveys a quiet, spiritual intensity.
2/ Some critics saw El Greco as mad, but several 19th century artists heralded his work as that of a genius. “Greco’s merit is that he was two centuries ahead of his time” said Mary Cassatt. Degas owned the St. Dominic, along with St. Ildefonso, which is now at the @ngadc.
3/ Degas was a voracious collector. His success as an artist allowed him to buy the works of his contemporaries like Cassatt, Millet, Gauguin, Cezanne, and others. El Greco was one of the few Old Masters he sought out.
4/ When he bought the St. Dominic in 1896, collector Alexis Rouart wrote to Degas: “Oh Greco...the most beautiful of all...and how happy I am to know that it belongs to you!” Degas had it until his death in 1917, after which it was sold. The MFA bought it in New York in 1923.
Thanks to provenance fan @SOVIETNAM_MUSIC for the suggestion!
Saint Dominic: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32014/
St. Ildefonso: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.90.html
Millet: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32902/
Cassatt: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/259364/
Saint Dominic: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32014/
St. Ildefonso: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.90.html
Millet: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/32902/
Cassatt: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/259364/
