El Greco, being a very devout Catholic,
believed that grace and not symmetry was what composed a truly noble painting.
One can see that though the figures in his works are not always accurate of
reality, they convey a strong religious symbolism hidden in them. This is due
to the heavy influence of byzantine art and El Greco’s use of mannerism that
was prevalent in his time.
Depicted is the famous tale that all
children hear of St. Martin and the beggar; St. Martin cuts his own cloak in
two so that a beggar could be clothed, thus acting with true Christian charity
and in accord with the corporal work of mercy “clothe the naked”. St. Martin,
however, is not looking at the beggar, seeming to indicate that he would give
Christian charity to anyone and that it is not this particular beggar that he has
noted. St. Martin is literally a knight in shining armor riding on a white
horse to the rescue of his neighbor; quite an appropriate depiction of him that
is in proportion to his act of charity. The exemplary figure of St.
Martin reminds us, during this time of Lent, to carry out spiritual and
corporal works of mercy toward all we meet, turning toward Christ as our guide.
