Explore the History of this artwork.
A painting on this subject had originally been commissioned from Juan Fernández Navarrete by Philip II of Spain as an altarpiece dedicated to Saint Maurice and his Theban Legion. After Navarrete's death in 1579, Philip transferred the commission to El Greco, who had recently established himself in Toledo. The king saw the completed work in 1583, on his return from Portugal, and was unhappy with it.
El Greco Philip II of Spain Saint Maurice Juan Fernández Navarrete Theban Legion Toledo