Virgin Mary (El Greco, Strasbourg)

The Virgin Mary, also known as Mater Dolorosa, although this title is now considered misleading,[1] is a late 1590s or early 1600s painting by the Greek born, Spanish Mannerist painter Doménikos Theotokópoulos (El Greco). It is on display in the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Strasbourg, France. Its inventory number is 276.[2] A similar looking canvas in the Museo del Prado is considered a weaker replica.[1]

Virgin Mary
Mater Dolorosa
Artist	El Greco
Year	between 1594 and 1604
Medium	oil painting on canvas
Movement	Mannerism Spanish Renaissance
Subject	Mary, mother of Jesus
Dimensions	53 cm × 37 cm (21 in × 15 in)[1]
Location	Musée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg
Accession	1892

The Strasbourg painting was presented to the museum in 1892 by John Charles Robinson, who had strong commercial ties to its director, Wilhelm von Bode.[1] [The accession date was given as 1893 in previous publications.][2]

Mary is depicted with the face of an adolescent girl.[3] The portrait painting type corresponds to a variation of the Byzantine Theotokos, with which Doménikos Theotokópoulos was naturally familiar.[1]