The Assumption of the Virgin

The Assumption of the Virgin

As I walked through the halls of the Art institute, I saw many paintings and sculptures. One painting that stood out the most was called, “The Assumption of the Virgin,” by El Greco. As I stood in front this huge painting I was trying to figure out what was going on in the painting. Right away I could tell that oil was used to paint this portrait because there was a shine on the painting. I refused to read the description of the painting until I came to a conclusion. I stood there trying to figure out what was taking place in and if I was able to recognize anyone. On the top part of the painting I could point out the angels and the women in the middle, at first glance I could tell that the women was Virgin Mary. As I was view the bottom part of the painting, I noticed that the men seemed confused as if they didn’t know what was going on. Viewing this painting in person seemed very different from viewing painting online. I could clearly see how the artists used colors to make this painting stand out, and how he was able to show two scenes in one painting.

Interviewing the artist.

Mr. Greco, I understand that you painted this portrait in 1577. It was your first major commission when you arrived in his adopted country of Spain after training in Italy. It was commissioned for the central panel of the high altar of the church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo. I have done a little research on your work and it seems like you like doing religious paintings, paintings that might the viewer a story. You seemed to be very interested in Renaissance Art, and your style of painting also resembles Renaissance art. You decided to do this painting for the Church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo.

I decided to examine your painting because it stood out the most. The first thing that caught my attention was the choice of colors you used in your painting. The colors seemed very bright, I didn’t see many dark colors in the painting and by dark colors I mean black, something that shows sadness. The clarity in your painting was absolutely fabulous. I have seen many painting where the artist seems to hide images. A lot of paintings seem to open up more when you see them more then once, but your painting seemed very clear.

I could see that there was more than one thing going on your painting. The thing that seemed to amaze me about this painting was that you were able to create two different scenes within this painting. I saw many painting in the art museum but yours seem to stand out the most because it left me guessing. I was having a hard time trying to figure out the message you were trying to convey. I could see that the woman in the middle was Virgin Mary. The reason I thought she was Virgin Mary was because the way she was dressed. She seemed to be dressed in simple clothes, nothing fancy. I have seen many Virgin Mary paintings and she is shown wearing clothes like these in almost all of her paintings. I could see that she is rising from her tomb and floating towards the sky, she seemed to be greeted by angels, which I think symbolizes her holy stature. The angels seem to be very pleased to be in her company. We could see that she was standing on the moon. I did not understand the reason she was standing on the moon.

On the bottom I could see that there were at least 12 men who seems to be confused with something. I was having a hard time trying to figure out who those men were. At one point I thought those men were the Apostles but for some reason I decided to disregard that thought. One of the men is pointing towards the sky as if he is guiding the other man and showing