EL ARTE DE ESPANA El arte de Domenikos Theotokopoulos A.K.A “El Greco”

El Greco - Background Domenikos Theotokopoulos, called El Greco, was born in 1541 in Candia, the capital of Crete. In 1566 he was recorded in Candia as a master painter. El Greco probably went to Italy to master the modern Western Renaissance style.

El Greco He was profoundly influenced by the rich colors and the free handling of paint of Venetian painters. El Greco was admitted to the Academy of Saint Luke as a miniature painter.

El Greco Unable to obtain major public commissions in Rome, thus he began to paint for the only other institute that had money, the church. Fed up with Italy he moved to Toledo in Spain. In 2 years he had completed nine paintings for the church of Santo Domingo. These works helped to establish his reputation as the most gifted artist in Toledo.

El Greco The dissatisfaction of Philip II with the Martyrdom of Saint Maurice, which El Greco completed in 1582 for the church of El Escorial, effectively ended any hopes of royal patronage that he may have had. It is perhaps for this reason that he decided to remain in Toledo, where he had come in contact with a group of learned churchmen who appreciated his work. By 1585, El Greco appears to have established a corporate workshop capable of producing altar frames and statues as well as paintings.

El Greco The decade 1597 to 1607 was a period of intense activity for El Greco. During these years, the artist and his workshop created pictorial and sculptural ensembles for a variety of religious institutions. Between 1607 and 1608 El Greco was involved in a protracted legal dispute with the authorities of the hospital at Illescas concerning the payment for his work; this dispute greatly strained his financial resources and contributed to the economic difficulties that he experienced until his death in 1614.

El Greco In 1608 he received his last major altarpiece commission, for the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist, Toledo. El Greco was most widely known for his religious and famous people works. His style had never been seen before. He uses icy blues and vibrant reds. Turbulent storm clouds signal his works. His fingers on the hands of his subjects also reflect the work of el Greco. The style of halo also marks the era of all his works.

Autorretrato Self-Portrait

El Cristo lleva la cruz. Christ carrying the cross.

El espolio The disrobing of Jesus.

Laocoon “Laocoon” – Greek Mythology

Retrato de un cardenal Portrait of a Cardinal

San Jerome como un cardenal Saint Jerome as a cardinal

San Juan y San Francis Saint John & Saint Francis

El Salvador The savior

La trinidad The holy trinity

Una vista de Toledo A view of Toledo

La adoración del nombre Jesus. Adoration of the name Jesus

El entierro del conde Orgaz The burial of Count Orgaz (His most famous work)