[Артём]

El Greco (1541-1614)

Creation of the master was in oblivion for three centuries. This is explained by the fact that his works were too different from the mainstream, which, starting from the XVI century developed Western European painting. Only in the twentieth century, it took its rightful place in the history of art and artistic culture of the past.
Domenico Teotokopuli, nicknamed because of its Greek origins of El Greco, born in 1541 on the island of Crete, who was then under the rule of the Venetian Republic. On the island dominated traditions of the medieval Byzantine painting. El Greco, probably learned from local icon painters. This largely determined the particular artist's work, in particular, his technique of writing. He uses a multi-layer painting with active use belilnyh pads. This technique allows create images that preserve the luminous power and color intensity in the museum halls with poor lighting or in the dark hours of the day.
In 1566 the artist moved to Venice, where learning from Titian. Judging by his early work, it has a great influence later manner of Titian, with its free stroke and color. A composite construction and especially the architectural perspective suggests the influence of Tintoretto.
The exact date of arrival of El Greco in Spain is unknown. Researchers of his work usually comes from the fact that, after living some time in Madrid and received recognition at the royal court, he was the fall of 1577 has already started to work in Toledo.
The first major order in Spain, El Greco was in the late seventies, it was a great altar for the church of San Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo (1577). The artist wrote in the years 1577-1579 altar painting "The Ascension of Mary", "Trinity", "The Resurrection of Christ", "The Adoration of the Magi" and four images of the saints. The work of El Greco appreciated and experts, and viewers, but it provoked a protest of the churchmen of Toledo, it was incomprehensible to them.
"During his life, El Greco wrote a large number of paintings, many of them are excellent. But in his work, there are five or six paintings, which can be called great. Among the masterpieces of the first in time belongs to "Espoli" (1577-1579) ...

Two days ago we saw the film "El Greco" 1966. Director: Luciano Salcie. Cast: Mel Ferrer, Rosanna Schiaffino. Good film, will be able to see.