A solitary figure kneels on rocky ground, his hands clasped tightly in prayer and his gaze turned downward in contemplation. He wears a voluminous white robe with broad sleeves, its folds rendered in thick, energetic brushstrokes, and a heavy black cloak that envelops his shoulders and arms. The face is elongated, with high cheekbones and deep-set eyes, and the hair is cropped short, with a tonsure at the crown.

To the left, a wooden crucifix leans against a rock, and a small golden figure of Christ clings to it, standing out against the muted earth tones of the foreground. The rocks at the saint’s feet are painted with swirling, textured strokes, echoing the movement of the drapery and the sky above. The sky is a turbulent expanse of blue and white, the clouds streaked with light and shadow, painted in sweeping, expressive lines.

The composition centers the kneeling saint, whose pale robe and hands form a luminous core against the darker background. The brushwork is vigorous and visible throughout, especially in the treatment of the fabric and the sky, where the paint appears almost sculpted onto the canvas. The overall palette is dominated by cool blues, greys, and whites, with the only bright color coming from the gold of the crucifix.

The subject is Saint Dominic, shown in a moment of solitary devotion, his posture and expression suggesting intense spiritual focus. St Dominic in Prayer is created by El Greco between 1600 and 1610. This work was offered at Sotheby’s London on 3 July 2013 as lot 19.