Christ as Saviour 1610 - 1614

El Greco painted “Christ as Saviour” with oil on canvas, deploying a traditional process to communicate a spiritual message. The way the oil paint is applied here is particularly interesting. Look at the layering, where El Greco has built up the image with glazes, thin translucent layers of paint applied one over another. This creates a sense of depth and luminosity, especially in the robes, which seem to glow from within. The highlights, achieved with thicker, more opaque strokes, give the fabric a palpable texture. The use of oil paint, refined from the medieval period on, allowed artists a degree of control and subtlety that wasn't possible with earlier media like tempera or fresco. It enabled the creation of highly finished, detailed images, but also allowed for expressive brushwork. This balance is key to El Greco’s impact, and the emotional intensity of the work. So, remember that what may appear to be a straightforward religious image is in fact deeply rooted in the materiality and techniques of its time, reflecting both artistic skill, and also an understanding of the market for devotional images.