El Greco
Spanish (born Greece), 1541–1614

The Agony in the Garden elevates spiritual concerns over the representation of the physical world. Jesus is shown praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, located on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem, just before his arrest for his teachings (Judas and the Roman soldiers are approaching at the right). El Greco communicates Christ’s spiritual struggle as he contemplates his coming crucifixion through Christ’s expressive face and pose, the otherworldly light and strident colors, and the confusing sense of space and form (where exactly is the angel in relationship to the sleeping apostles?).

Born Domenikos Theotokopoulos on the island of Crete, El Greco (“the Greek”) trained in Venice and Rome before settling in Toledo, Spain, where he painted this picture. His emotionally charged religious images confirm his status as one of the most intensely original artistic visionaries of any era.

Oil on canvas, about 1590–95
Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey, 1946.5