The procession of Corpus Christi in the nave of the Church of the monastery of El Escorial, from a series of Views of El Escorial
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 20 11/16 in. × 14 in. (52.5 × 35.5 cm) Image: 17 1/2 × 11 13/16 in. (44.5 × 30 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Georgiana W. Sargent, in memory of John Osborne Sargent, 1924
Accession Number
24.63.496
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking print offers a sweeping view down the nave of the Church of the Monastery of El Escorial. Towering stone columns and massive arches frame the scene, leading the eye toward a richly decorated high altar beneath a soaring dome. A long procession of robed figures advances along the checkered floor, their dark silhouettes contrasting with the light streaming from windows high above. The artist employs precise etching and engraving lines to capture the grandeur of the architecture and the solemn movement of the crowd. Created around 1790–1800 by José Gómez Navia and printed at the Calcografía Real in Madrid with the assistance of Manuel Alegre, the work belongs to a series of views documenting the monastery’s impressive interiors. It records the annual Corpus Christi procession as it would have appeared in this historic space. Through its careful technique, the print preserves both the architectural splendor of El Escorial and the living tradition of this important religious ceremony for later generations.
About the Artist
José Gómez Navia|Calcografía Real, Madrid|Manuel Alegre (Spanish|Spanish| ) · 1768 |1757 | – |1812 |
Spanish, born 1768|Spanish, 1757– ca. 1812|