Portrait of Diego de Covarrubias y Leiva c. 1600

El Greco painted this portrait of Diego de Covarrubias y Leiva using oil on canvas, a traditional choice that nonetheless offered great expressive potential. Look closely, and you’ll notice how El Greco built up the image through layers of brushwork, especially in the face. This wasn't just a mechanical process. With each addition, the painting gained depth, reflecting the sitter's personality. The careful layering of paint suggests El Greco’s deep understanding of his materials. The folds and highlights in Covarrubias's white robes required a sensitivity to texture, and an intense labor to obtain the final product. The details of Covarrubias’s garments are also telling. Consider the cross hanging from his neck, and the black 'bonnet' hat he wears. All point to his status as a learned and powerful figure, President of the Council of Castile. By attending to these details, El Greco shows how the materials and processes of art can communicate social standing. This portrait invites us to consider the labor, status, and meaning embedded within the artwork.