El Greco painted a religious masterpiece for King Felipe II

Domenikos Theotokopoulos, known as El Greco, painted El martirio de san Mauricio y la Legión Tebana in his Toledo studio between 1580 and 1582.

King Felipe II of Spain commissioned the work for the basilica de El Escorial. The painting depicts the martyrdom of Saint Maurice and the Theban Legion. It combines various artistic styles, including Byzantine art, Roman Mannerism, and Venetian techniques. The commission served mutual interests for the monarch and the artist.

King Felipe II wanted the painting to convey a message of support for the Counter-Reformation and the Holy Inquisition. El Greco aimed to secure a position as a court painter through the project.