Artists often transfer to the canvas not what they see, but what draws them their own imagination. But the picturesque space does not directly depend on the original material of the artist – real or speculative; it obeys its own laws.
The composition of “Prayer for the Chalice” El Greco is built on the clash of irrational and seemingly disparate elements, which unite, convey the mystical sense of the spiritual climax that accompanies this evangelical episode. In the center of the canvas is the kneeling Jesus; the contour of the rock behind him repeats the shape of his figure.
On the left, above, an angel is looking at him, carrying a golden cup – a symbol of the passions of Christ. The angel seems to fly on a cloud that envelops the sleeping disciples of Christ. In the far right, we see Judas and soldiers who are going to arrest Jesus. Two symmetrically located huge clouds give the composition a balance.
The whole landscape in the Garden of Gethsemane, where supernatural powers rule, becomes a symbol of the sufferings of Jesus, which the viewer experiences with him. This feeling of empathy is promoted by the characteristic features of El Greco’s style – mysterious, deadly lighting, elongated forms and expressive color.
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