Capodimonte Artists Schedule Tickets Location | Authorizations
Artists Palace Gardens | Bellini | Botticelli | Bronzino | Brueghel | Canova | Caravaggio | Gentileschi | Giambologna | Giordano | Greco | Lotto | Luini | Mantegna | Masaccio | Masolino | Michelangelo | Palma | Parmigianino | Porta | Raphael | Reni | Titian | Van Dyck | Warhol
El Greco (1541–1614), Young Boy Blowing on an Ember, Capodimonte Museum, Naples
El Greco, “El Soplón, Young Boy Blowing on an Ember”
Painting – Oil on canvas (60.5 x 50.5 cm) 1570–1572This painting superbly captures the play of light with its magnificent chiaroscuro, presenting a scene that is both vivid and realistic, depicting a young boy lighting a candle with a glowing ember.
El Greco, El Soplón He is blowing on the embers to rekindle the flame and light the wick of the candle, from which a drop of wax is already falling.
The only source of light is that of the glowing ember, a soft, warm light that allows El Greco to create this intimate atmosphere into which he invites us to step.
The young boy is focused on his task, his eyes downcast and his lips pursed as he blows gently and steadily on the ember to keep it glowing without burning his hands.
It is an intimate and serene scene in which we can sense the young boy’s breath passing between his puffed-out cheeks and pursed lips.
This exquisitely delicate portrait is one of El Greco’s masterpieces.
Artists Palace Gardens | Bellini | Botticelli | Bronzino | Brueghel | Canova | Caravaggio | Gentileschi | Giambologna | Giordano | Greco | Lotto | Luini | Mantegna | Masaccio | Masolino | Michelangelo | Palma | Parmigianino | Porta | Raphael | Reni | Titian | Van Dyck | Warhol
Capodimonte Artists Schedule Tickets Location | Authorizations
Back to Top of Page