Christ at Prayer

El Greco captured Christ immersed in prayer, with his upturned eyes reflecting deep emotion. This canvas is based on the painting, Christ Stripped of his Garments in Toledo Cathedral. El Greco separated Christ’s bust from the Toledo composition, thus changing the fixed type of Christ Pantocrator into a painting of innermost feelings, featuring Christ-man in a silent dialogue with God. The Prague canvas is one of the three versions of this composition. The two others, similar to the Prague painting, are held by the Museo San Telmo in Spain and the McNay Art Institute in Texas. The quality of the Prague painting and the fact that it is signed suggest it was probably used as a prototype for studio replicas.