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[[Image:A_View_of_Toledo.jpg|thumb|500px|A View of Toledo, one of El Greco's most famous paintings.]]

[[Image:A_View_of_Toledo.jpg|thumb|500px|A View of Toledo, one of El Greco's most famous paintings.]]

[[File:El Greco considered Self Portrait 1604.jpg|thumb|left|Considered Self-Portrait, 1604.]]

[[File:El Greco considered Self Portrait 1604.jpg|thumb|left|Considered Self-Portrait, 1604.]]

'''Doménicos Theotokópoulos''' (Greek: Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος) known as '''El Greco''' (''The Greek'' in Spanish) was born in [[Crete]] in 1541, and died in 1614. He was a Mannerist [[painter]], [[sculptor]], and [[architect]] of the Spanish [[Renaissance]]. In 1560, he went to Venice, [[Italy]], where [[Titian]] became his greatest mentor; he also had the influence of [[Tintoretto]] and [[Michelangelo]]. From Venice, El Greco moved to [[Rome]], where he worked from 1570 to 1576. Around 1576, he settled in Toledo [[Spain]] and was considered the first great genius of the Spanish School. Some of his [[painting]]s are regarded as the most vivid works in the world.

'''Doménicos Theotokópoulos''' (Greek: Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος) known as '''El Greco''' (''The Greek'' in Spanish) was born in [[Crete]] in 1541, and died in 1614. He was a Mannerist [[painter]], [[sculptor]], and [[architect]] of the Spanish [[Renaissance]]. In 1560, he went to Venice, [[Italy]], where [[Titian]] became his greatest mentor; he also had the influence of [[Tintoretto]] and [[Michelangelo]]. From Venice, El Greco moved to [[Rome]], where he worked from 1570 to 1576. In Rome, El Greco admired Parmigianino who could gave him the inspiration for his stylized figures. Around 1576, he settled in Toledo [[Spain]] and was considered the first great genius of the Spanish School. Some of his [[painting]]s are regarded as the most vivid works in the world.

Curiously, the paintings of his Italian period were very different in style from his later works. Some of the first are ''Christ Healing the Blind Man'' (1560s), ''The Annunciation'' (1570-1575), and ''Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple'' (c. 1570)... Man of eccentric habits and ideas, of tremendous determination, extraordinary reticence, and extreme devoutness’ he was valued and respected by the intellectuals of Toledo. [http://www.abcgallery.com/E/elgreco/elgrecobio.html] He excelled also as a portraitist.  

Curiously, the paintings of his Italian period were very different in style from his later works. Some of the first are ''Christ Healing the Blind Man'' (1560s), ''The Annunciation'' (1570-1575), and ''Christ Driving the Traders from the Temple'' (c. 1570)... Man of eccentric habits and ideas, of tremendous determination, extraordinary reticence, and extreme devoutness’ he was valued and respected by the intellectuals of Toledo. [http://www.abcgallery.com/E/elgreco/elgrecobio.html] He excelled also as a portraitist.