El Greco

El Greco, born Doménikos Theotokópoulos in 1541 in Crete, was a prominent painter of the Spanish Renaissance. Initially trained in the post-Byzantine tradition, he later moved to Venice, where he was influenced by Titian and Tintoretto, and subsequently to Rome, where he absorbed elements of Mannerism. In 1577, El Greco relocated to Toledo, Spain, where he developed his distinctive style characterized by elongated figures and dramatic use of color and light. His works, such as "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz" and "View of Toledo," reflect a unique synthesis of Byzantine and Western painting traditions. El Greco's innovative approach had a profound impact on the development of both Baroque art and later modern movements. He passed away in 1614, leaving a legacy that continues to influence artists and art historians.