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Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo was a Spanish aristocrat who died in 1323. Best known by the title "Count of Orgaz" (see note), he is depicted in a 16th century painting, ''
The painting was commissioned for display in the Church of Santo Tomé in
Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo was a Spanish aristocrat who died in 1323. Best known by the title "Count of Orgaz" (see note), he is depicted in a 16th century painting, ''The Burial of the Count of Orgaz
''The Burial of the Count of Orgaz'' ( es, El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz) is a 1586 painting by El Greco, a prominent Renaissance painter, sculptor, and architect of Greek origin. Widely considered among his finest works, it illustrates a popul ...
'', by El Greco
Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos ( el, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος ; 1 October 1541 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco ("The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El G ...
which is widely acknowledged as the artist's masterpiece.
The painting was commissioned for display in the Church of Santo Tomé in Toledo
Toledo most commonly refers to:
* Toledo, Spain, a city in Spain
* Province of Toledo, Spain
* Toledo, Ohio, a city in the United States
Toledo may also refer to:
Places Belize
* Toledo District
* Toledo Settlement
Bolivia
* Toledo, Orur ...
, where it remains to this day.
It was part of a project organised in the 1580s by a priest, Andrés Núñez, who was refurbishing the burial chapel of Gonzalo Ruiz.
The painting juxtaposes the miraculous events which, according to legend, took place at the time the Count was buried ( Saint Stephen and Saint Augustine descended in person from the heavens) with realistic depictions of the inhabitants of Toledo.
Núñez is portrayed in the painting, as are contemporaries from Toledo including the artist himself.
Access to the church
The church is opened on a daily basis. The building is of architectural interest, but the main attraction for tourists is the painting. An entrance fee is charged.Notes
:1. Orgaz is a town in theprovince of Toledo
Toledo is a province of central Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Castile–La Mancha. It is bordered by the provinces of Madrid, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Badajoz, Cáceres, and Ávila. Its capital is the city of Toledo.
...
. Somewhat confusingly, Gonzalo was not actually a count, but the family's title was upgraded to that of count in the 16th century.
References
{{reflist Burials in the Province of Toledo Counts of Spain People from Toledo, Spain Year of birth unknown 1323 deaths