El Greco, born Domenikos Theotokopoulos on Crete, was an innovative artist who blended Eastern and Western influences. Growing up on the multicultural island and educated in both Crete and Italy, he developed a unique style that spanned several artistic traditions. In addition to his religious work, El Greco was also a prominent portrait painter.

El Greco's art is characterized by its elongated figures, dramatic use of color, and spiritual intensity, giving his works a highly distinctive and emotional quality.

During his time in Rome, he established himself as a talented but controversial artist. El Greco’s confidence and unusually outspoken attitude often met resistance in the city's art world. He even went as far as to criticize Michelangelo, one of the great masters of the time, claiming that he "didn’t know how to paint." He also offered to paint over The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel.