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El Greco has used theatrical gestures and intense colours to express the chaos and disruption of the Purification of the Temple -- the moment that Christ drove out traders selling animals for sacrifice, furious that the temple was being used for commerce. Christ's anger is shown through his body, arm raised ready to strike; he looks like a spring ready to uncoil.A sculpture of Adam and Eve's expulsion from the Garden of Eden, to the left of the archway, reinforces the sinfulness of the traders' actions. In contrast, Christ's apostles stand in front of a relief sculpture showing the Old Testament figure Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his own son on God's command.El Greco painted this subject at least four times, but this is one of the most dramatic versions.
Title
Christ driving the Traders from the Temple
Date
about 1600
Medium
Oil on canvas
Measurements
H 106.3 x W 129.7 cm
Accession number
NG1457
Acquisition method
Presented by Sir J.C. Robinson, 1895
Work type
Painting
The National Gallery, London
Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England
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