Saint Veronica Holding the Veil

Saint Veronica Holding a Headscarf is an oil painting by the Greek painter Dominicus Theotocopulos, known as El Greco. Signed image: CHÈIR DOMENIKOU

The portrait of St. Veronica is the first portrait where El Greco used as a model his long-time life partner Jeronima de las Cuevas. The woman holds a scarf with the image of Christ in her hands. According to legend, Veronica was to see Jesus carrying the cross, and the sight of a beaten and weakened convict falling under the weight of the cross moved her so much that she squeezed through the crowd and wiped His face with a white scarf. The image of the martyred Jesus remained on the headscarf.