His Venetian contacts introduced him to the artistic community in Rome where he settled in nicely. El Greco was born Domenikos Theotokopoulos in 1541 on the Greek island of Crete, which had been under Venetian rule since 1212.
Three years later, in June 1566, as a witness to a contract, he signed his name as Master Menegos Theotokopoulos, painter. Although the artistic heritage of these great masters was overwhelming for young painters, El Greco was determined to make his own mark in Rome defending his personal artistic views, ideas and style. Because of his unconventional artistic beliefs (such as his dismissal of Michelangelo's technique) and personality, El Greco soon acquired enemies in Rome. El Greco's father, Georgios Theotokopoulos (d. 1556), was a merchant and tax collector. El Greco is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism, while his personality and works were a source of inspiration for poets and writers such as Rainer Maria Rilke and Nikos Kazantzakis. DomenikosTheotokopoulos was born 1st October 1541, in Heraklion, Crete. The Frick Collection; Henry Clay Frick Bequest (1905.1.67). Link To This Page | ‘El Greco’ actually means ‘The Greek’ and is a direct reference to his heritage. During the course of the execution of a commission for the Hospital Tavera, El Greco fell seriously ill, and a month later, on April 7, 1614, he died. In Rome, El Greco had earned the respect of some intellectuals, but was also facing the hostility of certain art critics. Starting his guitar journey at age 12 Elias has been playing for 29 years. And thus we are confronted by a paradox: El Greco is said to have reacted most strongly or even condemned Michelangelo, but he had found it impossible to withstand his influence. Australian born Greek artist, that specialises in his own style of Mediterranean guitar. His paintings are renowned for their spiritual intensity and use of radically foreshortened, elongated figures, depicted in often brilliant, unnatural flesh tones.
Lacking the favor of the king, El Greco was obliged to remain in Toledo, where he had been received in 1577 as a great painter. El Greco conducted a long-term relationship with Jeronima de Las Cuevas. El Greco returned to Toledo.
It is unknown how long he remained in Rome, though he may have returned to Venice (c. 1575-1576) before he left for Spain. At the time of his death, El Greco had a working library of 130 volumes. She was the mother of his only son, Jorge Manuel, born in 1578, who also became a painter, assisted his father, and continued to repeat his compositions for many years after he inherited the studio. One of his early works from the Cretan period was Dormition of the Virgin. El Greco was extremely productive until 1607. One of the few surviving records from his early years indicates that he was already an established painter of icons by 1566. During these years he received several major commissions, and his workshop created pictorial and sculptural ensembles for a variety of religious institutions. The decade 1597 to 1607 was a period of intense activity for El Greco. Knowledge of El Greco's years in Italy is limited. By 1563, El Greco had the title of "master." Indeed, he did manage to secure two important commissions from the monarch: Allegory of the Holy League and Martyrdom of St. Maurice. El Greco created two paintings for the king, but King Phillip didn't like El Greco's style.
New York, NY 10021 Born on the Greek island of Crete in 1541, Doménikos Theotokópoulos, as he signed his paintings, was not known as “El Greco” until well after his death in 1614. The extensive archival research conducted since the early 1960s by scholars, such as Nikolaos Panayotakis, Pandelis Prevelakis and Maria Constantoudaki, indicates strongly that El Greco's family and ancestors were Greek Orthodox. The exact reasons for the king's dissatisfaction remain unclear. El Greco (meaning “the Greek”), born Domenikos Theotokopoulos, is widely regarded as one of the foremost painters of the Spanish Renaissance. Clovio characterized El Greco as "a rare talent in painting". These works would establish the painter's reputation in Toledo.
When he was later asked what he thought about Michelangelo, El Greco replied that "he was a good man, but he did not know how to paint". He also received his last major commission in 1608. In 1567, he relocated to Venice, probably dissatisfied with his career. You will hear elements of Greek, Italian, Spanish, Middle Eastern and Gipsy in his ambient tunes.
In addition to painting, he probably studied the classics of ancient Greece, and perhaps the Latin classics also; he left a "working library" of 130 books at his death, including the Bible in Greek and an annotated Vasari.
Three years later, in June 1566, as a witness to a contract, he signed his name as Master Menegos Theotokopoulos, painter. Although the artistic heritage of these great masters was overwhelming for young painters, El Greco was determined to make his own mark in Rome defending his personal artistic views, ideas and style. Because of his unconventional artistic beliefs (such as his dismissal of Michelangelo's technique) and personality, El Greco soon acquired enemies in Rome. El Greco's father, Georgios Theotokopoulos (d. 1556), was a merchant and tax collector. El Greco is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism, while his personality and works were a source of inspiration for poets and writers such as Rainer Maria Rilke and Nikos Kazantzakis. DomenikosTheotokopoulos was born 1st October 1541, in Heraklion, Crete. The Frick Collection; Henry Clay Frick Bequest (1905.1.67). Link To This Page | ‘El Greco’ actually means ‘The Greek’ and is a direct reference to his heritage. During the course of the execution of a commission for the Hospital Tavera, El Greco fell seriously ill, and a month later, on April 7, 1614, he died. In Rome, El Greco had earned the respect of some intellectuals, but was also facing the hostility of certain art critics. Starting his guitar journey at age 12 Elias has been playing for 29 years. And thus we are confronted by a paradox: El Greco is said to have reacted most strongly or even condemned Michelangelo, but he had found it impossible to withstand his influence. Australian born Greek artist, that specialises in his own style of Mediterranean guitar. His paintings are renowned for their spiritual intensity and use of radically foreshortened, elongated figures, depicted in often brilliant, unnatural flesh tones.
Lacking the favor of the king, El Greco was obliged to remain in Toledo, where he had been received in 1577 as a great painter. El Greco conducted a long-term relationship with Jeronima de Las Cuevas. El Greco returned to Toledo.
It is unknown how long he remained in Rome, though he may have returned to Venice (c. 1575-1576) before he left for Spain. At the time of his death, El Greco had a working library of 130 volumes. She was the mother of his only son, Jorge Manuel, born in 1578, who also became a painter, assisted his father, and continued to repeat his compositions for many years after he inherited the studio. One of his early works from the Cretan period was Dormition of the Virgin. El Greco was extremely productive until 1607. One of the few surviving records from his early years indicates that he was already an established painter of icons by 1566. During these years he received several major commissions, and his workshop created pictorial and sculptural ensembles for a variety of religious institutions. The decade 1597 to 1607 was a period of intense activity for El Greco. Knowledge of El Greco's years in Italy is limited. By 1563, El Greco had the title of "master." Indeed, he did manage to secure two important commissions from the monarch: Allegory of the Holy League and Martyrdom of St. Maurice. El Greco created two paintings for the king, but King Phillip didn't like El Greco's style.
New York, NY 10021 Born on the Greek island of Crete in 1541, Doménikos Theotokópoulos, as he signed his paintings, was not known as “El Greco” until well after his death in 1614. The extensive archival research conducted since the early 1960s by scholars, such as Nikolaos Panayotakis, Pandelis Prevelakis and Maria Constantoudaki, indicates strongly that El Greco's family and ancestors were Greek Orthodox. The exact reasons for the king's dissatisfaction remain unclear. El Greco (meaning “the Greek”), born Domenikos Theotokopoulos, is widely regarded as one of the foremost painters of the Spanish Renaissance. Clovio characterized El Greco as "a rare talent in painting". These works would establish the painter's reputation in Toledo.
When he was later asked what he thought about Michelangelo, El Greco replied that "he was a good man, but he did not know how to paint". He also received his last major commission in 1608. In 1567, he relocated to Venice, probably dissatisfied with his career. You will hear elements of Greek, Italian, Spanish, Middle Eastern and Gipsy in his ambient tunes.
In addition to painting, he probably studied the classics of ancient Greece, and perhaps the Latin classics also; he left a "working library" of 130 books at his death, including the Bible in Greek and an annotated Vasari.