The Burial of the Count of Orgaz 1587

El Greco painted *The Burial of the Count of Orgaz* for the Church of Santo Tomé in Toledo, Spain. Born in Crete, El Greco navigated his identity as a Greek artist working in a Spanish cultural landscape marked by the Counter-Reformation. In this painting, El Greco merges the earthly and the divine, portraying the Count's burial as witnessed by both saints and contemporary figures. The lower half depicts the burial itself, while the upper half shows the Count's soul ascending to heaven. It’s interesting to note that El Greco includes recognizable portraits of prominent Toledo citizens, positioning them within a spiritual narrative. What strikes me most is how El Greco used this commission to negotiate his place in society and to express the emotional intensity of religious experience during a time of strict religious orthodoxy.