The Getty Museum in Los Angeles has acquired and restored Luis de Morales's "Christ Carrying the Cross" (c. 1565), a 16th-century Spanish Renaissance painting. The work, which had been covered in discolored varnish and enlarged with wooden strips, was carefully conserved by Getty conservator Kari Rayner, who removed non-original paint to reveal the artist's original composition. The painting first appeared at auction in 2021 at Nagel Auktionen, initially attributed to Morales's studio with a €10,000 estimate, but later sold for €1.2 million before the Getty acquired it from the Daniel Katz Gallery.
This acquisition matters because fully autographed works by Luis de Morales, known as El Divino for his religious realism, rarely appear on the market. The restoration has brought the painting closer to its original state, showcasing Morales's dramatic style and his influence from Leonardo da Vinci and northern Renaissance painters. The work also highlights the Getty's commitment to acquiring and preserving significant Spanish Renaissance art, adding to its collection a piece that reflects the Catholic faith and the artistic traditions of 16th-century Spain.