El Greco

El Greco ("The Greek", Doménikos Theotokópoulos; 1541 – 1614) was a painter, sculptor, and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. He was born in Crete (now Greece), which was then part of the Republic of Venice, and later settled in Spain. El Greco is renowned for his distinctive style, characterised by elongated figures and dramatic, sometimes fantastical, lighting. His work, which was out of step with the prevailing trends of his time, combines elements of the Byzantine tradition with Western painting techniques. El Greco's paintings are intense, emotionally charged, and often spiritual, reflecting his deep religious faith and his interest in the human condition, seen in works such as The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.