Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple
c. 1600 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This dramatic oil painting depicts Christ expelling merchants and money changers from the Temple in Jerusalem, a biblical event emphasizing the purification of sacred spaces. The crowded composition is set within a grand architectural framework with towering columns.
Did you know?
El Greco, whose real name was Doménikos Theotokópoulos, painted several versions of 'Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple' throughout his career. These works often served as a theological statement about the corruption of the Church, but also as a subtle artistic manifesto. It's believed that in some versions, El Greco included portraits of his artistic heroes like Titian, Michelangelo, and Raphael among the onlookers, transforming the religious narrative into a homage to the masters of the High Renaissance.
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Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple
El Greco, c. 1600
