Review
"'... the most useful and enjoyable book on El Greco in English - or, for that matter, in any language.' Brian Sewell, Evening Standard; '... this is a beautiful book, with well-written text, a first-rate chronology and gorgeous reproductions.' The Art Book; '... splendidly produced with excellent illustrations.' Burlington Magazine"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
El Greco (1541-1614), born Domenikos Theotokopoulos, was one of the most fascinating and distinctive artists of the sixteenth century. His works are immediately recognizable for their brilliant colours, elongated figures, and spiritual intensity.
Initially trained in Crete, in around 1567 El Greco moved to Italy where he purportedly studied with Titian. A decade later he is documented in Toledo (south of Madrid), and he spent the rest of his long life in Spain. His paintings and writings offer a thoughtful, frequently inspired response to the varied environments in which he worked, and they reveal that he was deeply engaged with the religious and artistic thinking of his times.
This lavishly illustrated book, the first comprehensive English-language publication on El Greco in many years, addresses the full range of the artists work in painting and sculpture, from his Byzantine icons to his late altarpieces. It considers his personality from both a religious and intellectual point of view, and presents the artists religious, mythological, genre, landscape, and portrait works, providing the historical context in which they were made.