El Greco

Carlos Ygoa · 10-21-2004, 06:34 PM

I have attached a study I did of El Greco's "Knight with his Hand on his Breast". I was fortunate enough to have done this in front of the original, in the museum, from start to finish. It took me about 20 sessions--El Greco is quite complicated and it was the first study I had done of this artist.

The original image is taken from the museum's website and I'm afraid the image is not very good. I have a photo of the original here at home in a book but it is a photo of the work before it was restored some years ago. There is a great abyss that separates the look of the painting before the "cleaning" and the way it looks now. I'm sure everyone is more familiar with the older version (with a black background and everything else just generally darker).

It was a very good experience to copy this painting, just as it is to copy any old master. Fun, but very taxing mentally. I find this artist to be unique in every sense of the word. And way before his time. I recommend him for those who want to study, if only to exercise one's sense of colur, if we can look beyond the Mannerist distortions of his figures.

This is my first time to send an attachment. I hope I do it well. I cannot send other works as of yet on account of the technical problem I still have with my other computer where all my files are. Hope to solve this soon.

Allan Rahbek · 10-27-2004, 06:30 PM

Hi Carlos,

Sorry that I did not see your post of this Spanish Grandee until now.

I have always liked El Greco, he is so timeless. One very fine Danish Critic said that he painted his figures elongated, as stars that shines.

Your painting is very precise.
Did you copy the painting in natural size? And how did you measure? I guess it is not allowed to touch.

I saw, on your homepage, that you also have copied Titian, El Greco

Linda Brandon · 10-27-2004, 07:06 PM

Carlos, I must tell you that I prefer your painting to the one done by El Greco.

Carlos Ygoa · 10-28-2004, 04:27 PM

Allan,
My copy measured 73 x 60cm and is oil on linen (sorry for not mentioning this earlier). The original measures, according to the data from the museum, 81,8 x 65,8cm. so the reduction was not too drastic.

I found some similarities between Titian and El Greco, doubtless the influence of the venetian can be seen in the work of El Greco but still, the latter's work differs in compositional concepts as well as in colour. He was more of a "disciple" rather than a "student" of Titian.

Oh no, Linda...then that means it has failed as a copy, huh?

Thank you both for viewing

Linda Brandon · 10-28-2004, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlos Ygoa

Oh no, Linda...then that means it has failed as a copy, huh?

Oh no, it has not failed at all! It's an excellent copy and you did a wonderful job here.

I have yet to stand in front of a master painting and copy it in oils, but I've drawn some in charcoal. It's a wonderful feeling to copy a painting by an artist you admire. It's as if you're having a dialog with the artist. Did you feel this way when you copied it?

Carlos Ygoa · 11-01-2004, 12:06 PM

Linda,

Not quite sure how to answer this. I guess having a 500 year old work in front of me that has transcended time and is as valid today as it was the day it was painted just sort of made me silent and want to try to learn from it.

Carlos

Josef Sy · 11-02-2004, 10:16 PM

Carlos, great job on the copy. How is the tones and colors compared to the original? I guess its very close. Anyways, very nicely done. By the way, what's your website? Allan mentioned it but I could not find it.

Holly Snyder · 11-03-2004, 10:33 AM

Hi Carlos,

You did a wonderful job on your copy and, assuming the original you posted is true color, brought far more life to the subject with your warmer skin tones (as Linda said). I don't know El Greco, but perhaps his original used to look more like yours and his colors faded over time. Nice job.

Regards,

Holly

Carlos Ygoa · 11-03-2004, 05:50 PM

Josef, Linda:

Thank you for viewing and for the comments.
Unfortunately the original I posted does not do justice at all to its actual appearance, in fact it appears almost black and white. I tried to come as close as possible to the original colours/tones as I could. I will try to look for another image of the original and send that one. Thanks again.

Carlos