Curatorial Notes
The seemingly weightless figures, the startling color combinations, and the moody, imprecise setting all show El Greco’s interest in conveying the intense spirituality of these figures rather than their concrete reality. Above all, the painting addresses Mary’s role as mediator between Christ and the viewer. She supports her son, but her faraway look indicates awareness of his fate. Mary feeds Jesus fruit held by Joseph that is full of symbolic meaning, with the apple representing the fall of man; cherries, the blood of Christ; peaches, salvation; and pears, the sweetness of Christ’s virtue.
Artwork Identification
Title The Holy Family with Mary Magdalen
Title (PT) A Sagrada Família com Maria Madalena
Title (ES) La Sagrada Familia con María Magdalena
Artist El Greco
Artist Bio El Greco (Spanish, 1541–1614)
Date c. 1590–95
Work Type Painting
Location & Collection
Institution Cleveland Museum of Art
Source View Museum Page
License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0