423. El Greco (Domenikos Theotokópoulos) (1541-1614),

Greek, Spanish, Self-Portrait as Saint Luke, c. 1604.

Oil on canvas, 70.5 x 54 cm. Hispanic Society

of America, New York. Mannerism.

 

 

El Greco (Domenikos Theotokópoulos)

(1541 Crete – 1614 Toledo)

 

“The Greek” was an icon painter who immigrated to Venice. There he began his blending of Byzantine influences with that of the Italian High Renaissance masters. He studied under Titian and was influenced by Tintoretto. Some years on, he lived in Rome for about two years, then travelled to Madrid and later found his permanent home in Toledo, where he died. It was mainly in Spain where he focused on distinctively Catholic subjects. The elongated bodies and unusual colour arrangements became distinctive.