A Brief Analysis of El Greco

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El Greco

Although El Greco is best known for his paintings, El Greco changed the world with his unique religious works, mythological works and sculptures. El Greco is the greatest Renaissance artist because of his thinking-out-of-the-box style of art and different view on art than other artists.

El Greco was born in an unknown city of Crete in the year of 1541. El Greco's real and full birth name is Doménikos Theotokópoulos. His nickname, El Greco, comes from where he was born, Crete. He signed all of his paintings with his nickname which translates to "The Greek". This was suspected to be given to him by his fellow citizens because of where he was born. El Greco spoke Spanish and Greek, which helped his art to be understood. Even though El Greco is ultimately one of the greatest and most influential artists of his time, he had no known formal training in art. El Greco studied under Titian and others like Tintoretto and Michelangelo who influenced his art along with his birthplace and the current post-byzantine era art styles (getty). It is possible that El Greco had a wife, Jeronima de las Cuevas, a woman who lived with him. While they were probably not a married couple, they did have a child together, Jorge Manvel, who later followed in his father's footsteps and became a painter.

El Greco was one of the first artists of his era to use the art style, Mannerism. Mannerism is a 16th style of art where the artist uses (in their art) elongated fingers, loosely free brushwork, expressive lighting, and smart color choices (dictionary). El Greco was a forerunner in Mannerism because

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many fellow artists never attempted this style. El Greco's art style shows the strong, deep Catholic faith of Spain, which can be see...

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...667, El Greco received many major commissions which boosted his popularity among many people. El Greco was heavily influenced by the fine churchmen and influential members of Toledan society and God when creating his religious masterpieces (artic).

El Greco was one of the most influential artists in the late Renaissance through his techniques, styles, and views on art. Using his skills he learned, he changed the art world through mannerism, cubism and expressionism as well as his different views and visions which greatly changed the world of art.

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Works Cited

"El Greco." Artble. n.p. Web. 29 March 2014

"El Greco." The Getty. n.p, n.d. Web. 25 March 2014

Encyclopedia of the Renaissance. New York: Scribner, 1999. Print.

Peopling of the World. General, 2010. Print.

"The Assumption of the Virgin."Art Institute of Chicago. n.p. Web. 30 March 2014.

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