El Greco - An Outspoken Genius

El Greco, born Domenikos Theotokopoulos, is one of the most distinctive artists in art history. His artistic journey took him from Crete, where he was born and raised, to Rome via Venice, and finally to settle in Spain. It was in Spain that he painted many of his most famous works. Undoubtedly, he was inspired by the great masters of his time such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Tintoretto, but despite this, he developed a style that was not only unique in his own time but still stands out today.

El Greco, originally trained as an icon painter in Crete, spent several years (from the mid-1560s to 1577) in Italy to reshape his style and learn the new Western techniques, first in Venice where he studied under Titian, and later in Rome, where Michelangelo had the greatest influence. At that time, Michelangelo was widely regarded as the foremost artistic authority, with works such as the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment as evidence of this. In Rome, El Greco embraced many elements of Italian art, such as the use of perspective, the anatomy of the human body, and dramatic compositions. However, it soon became clear that El Greco's artistic philosophy differed significantly from the prevailing Renaissance ideals, especially those advocated by Michelangelo.

A popular recount today is El Greco's bold criticism of Michelangelo’s ability as a painter. It is said that El Greco, after Michelangelo’s death, remarked "He was a good man, but he did not know how to paint." Thus, contrary to how we view Michelangelo today, seen as a scandal-ridden and complicated personality but celebrated for his art.

At the same time, there was also a storm surrounding nudity in art, especially in religious contexts. Here, Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment was in the crosshairs. In a move that may have been an attempt to gain advantages and obtain the commissions he believed he deserved, El Greco offered to repaint The Last Judgment. He claimed that he could do it better than Michelangelo, further reinforcing the image of him as bold and arrogant in his ambitions.

The criticism was not only about painterly skill, there was a deeper philosophical divide between the two artists, while Michelangelo’s works were rooted in classical proportions, realism, and idealized figures, El Greco had begun to move towards a more spiritual, expressionistic style more in line with the Mannerist style and the Byzantine tradition he came from.

All this criticism directed at Michelangelo did not serve El Greco well, Michelangelo was still a highly loved and respected personality in Rome. El Greco himself had difficulty obtaining commissions in Rome and certainly did not improve his chances by openly criticizing the city’s great artistic genius.

In 1577, El Greco finally moved from Rome to Spain where there was hope to receive the commissions he deserved. In many ways, El Greco's life became calmer and more stable in Spain, especially after he settled in Toledo in 1577. Unlike his time in Rome, El Greco here became a respected artist and received several important commissions, primarily from the church. During this time, he also developed the style he is most known for today and produced many of his most famous works.

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