Why it matters
Saint John dominates the canvas in ecstasy while naked souls of martyrs writhe as they receive white robes of salvation. El Greco painted it in his last years for a church outside Toledo.
Did you know?
- The upper part of the painting was destroyed in 1880.
- It was long known as Profane Love.
- The Met describes it as 'unfinished and much damaged'.
Based on the Wikipedia article Opening of the Fifth Seal (CC BY-SA 4.0).
