El Greco's Masterpieces (Self Guided), Toledo

Domnnikos Theotokopoulos, most widely known as El Greco or "The Greek," was a Greek painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. El Greco was well ahead of his time. His dramatic and expressionistic style is regarded as a precursor of both Expressionism and Cubism of the 20th century.

El Greco was born in Crete, Greece, and studied painting in Italy. In 1577, he received a commission for nine paintings from the Monastery of Santo Domingo. That brought him to Toledo.

The city and the artist proved a good match. El Greco worked, married, raised a family, and lived in Toledo for the rest of his life. After his death, his remains are buried in the crypt beneath the Monastery of Santo Domingo. Today one can find El Greco's paintings throughout the city.

An altarpiece in the Santa Cruz Museum, fashioned by El Greco in 1613, tells of Mary's ascent to Heaven. She is borne up by billowing clouds of light, serenaded by angels. Byzantine faces, colors, and fluidity capture the Catholic mystery.

The Santa Cruz Museum also has The Crucifixion, Immaculate Conception, Annunciation, Holy Family, Assumption, and the Purification of the Temple and two views of 16th century Toledo, all by El Greco.

The Disrobing of Christ, finished in 1579, is in the Cathedral of Toledo. Christ is clad in red. Around him, his tormentors abuse him. They are in darkness. One man in yellow prepares the crucifix. Women look on in horror.

At the Church of Saint Tom is one of El Greco's most famous works, "The Burial of the Count of Orgaz." At the funeral of Don Gonzalo Ruiz de Toledo, Count of Orgaz, Saint Stephan, and Saint Augustine come down from Heaven to lay the Count to rest while his soul goes up.

In the El Greco Museum in the old Jewish quarter are 13 paintings of Christ and his disciples. Christ is flanked by six apostles to his right and six to his left. Judas' place is taken by Saint Paul.

Picasso proclaimed French painter Paul Cézanne to be the "father of us all." El Greco then is the grandfather.