St. Idelfonso 1607

El Greco's "St. Ildefonso" was painted with oil on canvas, a common medium during the period. The artist applied thin layers of paint that reflect light, creating a brilliant, luminous effect, especially on the red velvet cloth, richly decorated with gold embroidery. El Greco's style is characterized by elongated figures and dramatic compositions, imbuing the painting with a sense of spiritual intensity. As in much of his other work, the artist created this feeling through the manipulation of the materials he used and techniques that were considered highly unconventional for painting at the time. There is a division of labor inherent to the artwork: from the creation of the canvas to the preparation of the paint and the application of gold leaf, each step requiring specialized skills. We can imagine that each step was outsourced to workers and tradesman employed by the artist. This reminds us of the economic systems that supported artistic production during the 16th century. Looking closely at the materials, processes, and context in which this painting was made, we can better appreciate El Greco's remarkable achievement.