El Greco, Christ Driving the Traders From the Temple

ca 1600

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Text in the Bible

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Matthew 21:12-13

Related Paintings

El Greco, Christ driving the Traders from the Temple, ca 1570
Minneapolis Institute of Arts

El Greco, Christ driving the Traders from the Temple, before 1570
National Gallery of Art Washington

Overview

Medium: Oil
Support: Canvas
Size: 106.3 x 129.7 cm

Art movement: Late Renaissance
National Gallery London
Inventory number: NG1457

The biblical scene of the cleansing of the Temple was painted by El Greco in several versions which can be found under the tab ‘Related Paintings’ above. The scene is unusual in that it is the only occurrence in the New Testament where Christ resorted to physical violence.

The pigment analysis and other technical information allow a deeper understanding of this painting.