El Greco (The Greek)

The pictorial work of Domenikos Theotokópulos, El Greco, increases in value with each passing century. Original, luminous, and forerunner of great modern movements such as Impressionism, his emergence and great maturity goes hand in hand with Castile - La Mancha - its land and its culture, inextricably united with the genius of El Greco, illuminated his work, the only of its kind in the whole world. He is considered one of the greatest artists of western civilization.

CITIZEN OF TOLEDO

In 1577,El Greco established himself in Toledo, a city that not only welcomed him for the rest of his life but also where his pictorial work would achieve its brilliance. The people, the colors, and even the landscapes that he reflected in his work would always be Toledan.

SAINT DOMINIC, THE OLD

El Greco began the course of his career in Toledo with the paintings of the main altarpiece and the two lateral pieces in the convent of Saint Dominic of Silos, the Old. The support of his friend, the canon Don Diego del Castillo, was fundamental for this first commission, and thanks to it the convent houses a great collection of the painter’s work.

CATHEDRAL OF TOLEDO SACRISTY

One of the most significant works ofEl Greco, “El expolio” (The Disrobing of Christ), is preserved in the sacristy of the Cathedral of Toledo, surrounded by thirteen other paintings of his that portray the apostles.

EL GRECO’S RESIDENCE IN TOLEDO

Although the palace of the Marquis of Villena that the painter lived in is now gone, the El Greco Museum of the city has recreated a Toledan house of his time. In addition, it has very important pieces of his work that show his relationship with the city, such as “Vista y plano de Toledo” (View and Plan of Toledo).

THE BURIAL OF THE COUNT OF ORGAZ

El Greco’s master piece is still located in the same church for which it was commissioned. The painting is valued for many reasons. It represents the legend of how saints Stephen and Augustin buried the Toledan Count of Orgaz. The faces of those present in the painting are people from his day, among them, the painter himself.

ALTARPIECE IN THE HOSPITAL OF CHARITY IN ILLESCAS

Nowadays the Caridad Reina Museum houses, outside the city of Toledo, the largest collection ofEl Greco’sworks. Commissioned for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Charity, among them there are “Saint Ildefonsus”, “The Virgin of Charity”, “The Coronation”, “The Annunciation”, and “The Nativity”.

TAVERA HOSPITAL

This magnificent building, representative of the Spanish Renaissance, houses an incredible art gallery, with works of great masters, contemporaries ofEl Greco. The collection also includes “The Fifth Seal of the Apocalypse”, a work from the height of the painter’s development, and nowadays considered the most important predecessor of Impressionism.

SANTA CRUZ MUSEUM HOSPITAL

A genius of the Renaissance, El Greco was not only a painter but he also created numerous types of art to complete his repertoire. Many of the popular artisan crafts established during his time are still alive in artisans of Castile - La Mancha. Santa Cruz Museum houses important examples of this, in addition to some paintings of his.

Creta le dió la vida, y los pinceles                                   Crete gave him life, and paintbrushes

Toledo, mejor patria donde empieza                                Toledo, a better home where through

a lograr con la muerte, eternidades.                               death he began to attain eternity.

            Fray Hortensio Félix Paravicino                                      (translation credit: Nikolaos M.
                                                                                                                     Panagiotakes)