El Greco

Domenicos Theotocopoulos, better known by his Spanish nickname, El Greco c.1545-1614, studied under Titian in Venice before moving to Toledo. Commissioned by the church and local nobility, El Greco made dramatic paintings marked by distorted figures and vibrant color contrasted with subtle grays. Though his work was appreciated by his contemporaries, especially intellectuals, it wasn't until the 20th century that it was widely embraced and admired, influencing in particular the Expressionist movement.