Focus on Allegory of the Camaldolese Order and analyze the Patronage.
The canvas held at the Instituto Valencia of Don Juan bears escutcheon of Mariana de Mendoza of Toledo and that of her husband Pedro Lasso de la Vega, Conde de los Arcos. The two were known to own eight original works by El Greco, as well as eighteen works depicting hermits. The Allegory of the Camaldolese, however, was probably the only painting that they expressly commissioned from El Greco, showing their commitment to Fray Juan de Castañiza's project and their continuing support of the artist. It is unknown who commissioned the painting now at the Museo del Patriarca, though it bears the arms of Juan de Ribera, Archbishop of Valencia and Patriarch of Antioch. Fernando Marías suggested it may have been a gift from Mariana and Pedro Lasso to Ribera rather than being a personal commission.
El Greco escutcheon Valencia Museo del Patriarca Instituto Valencia of Don Juan Juan de Ribera Camaldolese