Around 1585 -1614 · Book, sword and apostolic authority

Paul alone, Paul with Peter and the two apostles together show El Greco between spiritual portrait, doctrinal debate and series of apostolados.

El Greco represents Paul as a man of thought and speech. High forehead, dark beard, book or sword identify the apostle converted on the road to Damascus and traditional author of the epistles. In the apostolados, each saint occupies an isolated bust intended to dialogue with the other paintings. With Peter, Paul forms a founding but non-uniform couple: their gestures can recall divergences and complementarity within the primitive Church. With Peter, Paul forms a founding but non-uniform couple: their gestures can recall divergences and complementarity within the primitive Church. With Peter, Paul forms a founding but non-uniform couple: their gestures can recall divergences and complementarity within the early Church. The living surface, the dark background and the elongated fingers give the text given physical importance. The artist does not seek an archaeological portrait; it creates an intellectual presence adapted to Toledan spirituality. The selection "Saint Paul by El Greco" notably compares Apostle Saint Paul and Saint Paul. His reading favors drawing.

El Greco's Paul holds the book as an action: thought, writing and authority become visible in the movement of his hands.