El Greco in Toledo

El Greco, whose real name was Domenikos Theotocopoulus, was born in Crete, trained in High Renaissance Venice and Rome, and moved to Toledo in 1577. He saw himself as the epitome of the artist as courtier and philosopher, a contrast to the craftsman who emphasized the medieval aspects the city, including ‘El Espolio’ in the cathedral and ‘Burial of the Count of Orgaz’ in Santo Tome. His landscape paintings of the city are unparalleled – and even his monumental rendering of Laocoon refers to his adopted city which, in legend, was founded by the Trojans. This stunningly illustrated title is a highly informative study of El Greco’s paintings of the landscape and monuments of the city of Toledo, and a revelations of El Greco as a visionary, isolated individualist, provocative and reflective artist, who was often in dispute over his fees with his Church patrons, and the first inventor in Spain of the modern work of art of the idea of the modern artist.