El Greco(1541-1614) was born on Creta in Greece. His real name is Domenikos Theotokopoulos. El Greco means a Greek in the old Spanish. After having studied in Venice and Rome, he moved to Spain.
"Annunciation" depicts the scene when the Virgin Mary recieves the Annunciation from Gabriel who holds in his left hand a lily, the symbol of the virginity of Mary. Apigeon is flying down in the center which is the symbol of the Holy Spirit.
Anecdote
In 1922 Torajiro Kojima found that "Annunciation" by El Greco was put out for sale in an art gallery in Paris. It was exorbitantly priced, but he wanted to take it back to Japan regardless. So Kojima sent a letter together with pictures to his patron, Magosaburo Ohara, saying "Want to buy the El Greco, please investigate." Upon receiving it, Magosaburo sent money to him, saying "Buy the El Greco. Sending money." Money was on its way to Paris 60 days later after Kojima had sent his letter. In those days Europe was suffering from a serious recession as it was right after World War I. Anticipating that it would hit Japan eventually, Magosaburo knew that it was the right time paintings and he made up his mind.
Presently some people say it is even a miracle that Annunciation by El Greco exists in Japan. It was only possible due to the circumstances in Europe then, Kojima's accurate evalution of the painting, magosaburo's bold decision, and the solid trusting relationship between the two men. If one of these had missed, the miracle had never happened.
Annunciation
Commentary
El Greco(1541-1614) was born on Creta in Greece. His real name is Domenikos Theotokopoulos. El Greco means a Greek in the old Spanish. After having studied in Venice and Rome, he moved to Spain.
"Annunciation" depicts the scene when the Virgin Mary recieves the Annunciation from Gabriel who holds in his left hand a lily, the symbol of the virginity of Mary. Apigeon is flying down in the center which is the symbol of the Holy Spirit.
Anecdote
In 1922 Torajiro Kojima found that "Annunciation" by El Greco was put out for sale in an art gallery in Paris. It was exorbitantly priced, but he wanted to take it back to Japan regardless. So Kojima sent a letter together with pictures to his patron, Magosaburo Ohara, saying "Want to buy the El Greco, please investigate." Upon receiving it, Magosaburo sent money to him, saying "Buy the El Greco. Sending money." Money was on its way to Paris 60 days later after Kojima had sent his letter. In those days Europe was suffering from a serious recession as it was right after World War I. Anticipating that it would hit Japan eventually, Magosaburo knew that it was the right time paintings and he made up his mind.
Presently some people say it is even a miracle that Annunciation by El Greco exists in Japan. It was only possible due to the circumstances in Europe then, Kojima's accurate evalution of the painting, magosaburo's bold decision, and the solid trusting relationship between the two men. If one of these had missed, the miracle had never happened.
Painting
Apple Picking
Small Table in Evening Dusk
Song of Songs (Le Cantique des Cantiques)
Haystacks
Waterlilies
Cliff of Gréville
Coutyard at the ‘Rondest House’, Pontoise
Woman Wearing a Hat with Silk Gauze
Delightful Land (Te Nave Nave Fenua)
All Things Die, But All Will Be Resurrected through God’s Love
Wave
Carriage and Pair
Three Dancers in Red Costume
Autumn Sea
Old Horse in the Wasteland
Landscape
Festival of Venis
Hair
Winter Orchard
Beethoven
Landscape of La Ferté-Milon
Annunciation