El Greco's First Spanish Commission Reunited at Prado

The Museo del Prado in Madrid has reunited eight original works from El Greco's first major commission in Spain, the decorative project for the church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo, executed between 1577 and 1579. The exhibition, on view until June 15, 2025, is curated by Letizia Ruiz, who returns to the Prado as head of Spanish Renaissance painting after directing the Royal Collections. The centerpiece is the monumental 'Assumption' from the Art Institute of Chicago, returning to Spain for the first time since 1902. Other works include 'The Trinity' and 'San Benito' from the Prado's collections, 'The Adoration of the Shepherds' from the Fundación Botín, and three paintings on exceptional loan from the religious community of Santo Domingo El Antiguo: 'Resurrection', 'Saint John the Evangelist', and 'Saint John the Baptist'. A notable absentee is 'Saint Bernard' from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, due to geopolitical reasons. The exhibition also features a wooden frieze and a Veronica. The display uses large panels to deconstruct the altarpiece concept and dialogue with the central gallery space. The project highlights the dispersion of El Greco's early Spanish works due to changing fame and spoliation in the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibition is supported by the Fundación Amigos del Prado, which has about 46,000 members.