El Greco en España. El éxito de un gran pintor

Abstract

El Greco es un pintor reconocido por sus contemporáneos. De tradición bizantina cretense, marchó a Italia en 1567. En Venecia y Roma configuró su arte sobre el naturalismo de la luz y del color y adquiriendo una formación teórica, que le convertirá en filósofo de agudos dichos. No triunfó en Italia, desplazándose a España en 1577, donde permanecerá hasta morir en 1614. Triunfó en Toledo pintando para la Catedral y Santo Domingo el Antiguo. Felipe II le llamó al Escorial. El Entierro del Señor de Orgaz fue un cuadro famoso y carísimo nada más pintarse. Desde 1596 Theotocópuli consiguió grandes encargos: los retablos de doña María de Aragón en Madrid, el del Monasterio de Guadalupe, la Capilla de San José de Toledo, el Hospital de la Caridad de Illescas y los del Hospital Tavera. Es el mejor retratista de su época, pintando además de temas religiosos, mitologías y vistas. Un triunfador

El Greco was a painter who was already recognised by his contemporaries. With a Byzantine-Cretan tradition, he moved to Italy in 1567. In Venice and Rome he developed his art based on the naturalism of light and colour and also acquired a theoretical education, turning him into a philosopher known for his sharp sayings. Failing to find success in Italy he moved to Spain in 1577, where he remained until his death in 1614. He found success in Toledo, where he painted for the Cathedral and for the church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo. Philip II asked him to work at El Escorial. The picture of the Burial of the Count of Orgaz became famous and expensive as soon as it was painted. In 1596 Theotocópoulos began to receive important commissions: the altarpieces for the Doña María de Aragón in Madrid, for the Guadalupe Monastery, for the chapel of San José in Toledo, for the Hospital de la Caridad in Illescas and for the Hospital Tavera. He was the best portraitist of his time, painting mythologies and landscapes, as well as religious themes. A success