10 Famous Paintings by El Greco

El Greco, born as Doménikos Theotokópoulos belonging to the period of the Spanish Renaissance, emerged as a painter, architect as well as sculptor,  He prioritized color over form, which took his paintings to a new level altogether. According to modern scholars, El Greco’s works have so much of originality that he cannot be typecast to any conventional schools. The Venetian Renaissance, as well as the techniques of mannerisms, seems to have a profound influence of his paintings, which he had acquired during his stay in Italy.  He spent the last years of his life in Toledo, and it was during that time that he produced the most exquisite paintings of his career majority of which were commissioned.

Biography of El Greco in a Nutshell

Full Name	Doménikos Theotokópoulos
Birth	October 1541
Nationality	Greek
Death	7th April 1614
Mentor	Titian
Inspiration	Tintoretto, Michelangelo
Periods	Mannerism, Spanish Renaissance

Paintings and Artworks by El Greco

1. View of Toledo

Completed in: 1596–1600

Style: Mannerism

Measurements: 121.3 cm × 108.6 cm

Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Medium: Oil on canvas

It stands among one of the best artworks of El Greco where the Western sky is depicted magnificently. Toledo in Spain is a place close to El Greco’s heart since he spent the last years of his life there. The scene depicted here is that of the overcast sky just before a storm is to set in.  He plays brilliantly with dark and light as seen in his presentation of the dark and cloudy sky above, contrasted with the green, vibrant hills below, thus giving his painting a spiritual dimension. Another artwork of his series of landscape painting is View and Plan of Toledo, made during the last phase of his life.

2. The Disrobing of Christ

Completed in: 1577–1579

Style: Northern Renaissance

Measurements: 285 cm × 173 cm

Location: Sacristy of Toledo Cathedral

Medium: Oil on canvas

Portraying a biblical theme, this remarkable artwork had been commissioned for the Cathedral of Toledo’s sacristy. Christ is projected to be looking up perhaps towards heaven, with his face bearing a serene expression in comparison to the aggression and torment in that of the executioners. The calmness in Christ is a complete contrast to the turmoil around, with two men arguing over who would gain possession over his clothes post his crucifixion. The red garment of Christ has been portrayed by El Greco with a lot of vibrancy and seems to stand out amongst everything else.

3. Christ Carrying the Cross

Completed in: 1580

Style: Renaissance

Measurements: 105 cm × 79 cm

Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Medium: Oil on canvas

Christ carrying the cross while embarking a journey to Cavalry before being crucified, is an important subject matter in Christian faith, finding its way to several works of art. Greco too experimented with this subject and presented Christ clad in red attire along with blue robes. He holds on to the cross with not much effort, and his face bears an expression neither of pain nor anguish, but a resigned look, with eyes glancing towards heaven. This presentation of El Greco creates a spiritual mysticism.

4. Annunciation

Completed in: 1609

Style: Mannerism

Measurements: 294 cm × 204 cm

Location: Private Collection, Madrid

Medium: Oil on canvas

This is a remarkable Biblical event where angel Gabriel announces Mother Mary the news of her conception telling her that she would be Jesus’ mother. This theme was touched upon by El Greco though it had been completed by Jorge Manual post his death in 1614.

5. Crucifixion

Completed in: 1597 – 1600

Measurements: 312 cm X 169 cm

Location: Museo Nacional Del Prado (Prado Museum)

Medium: Oil on canvas

This is another commissioned painting perhaps for the Augustine College of María de Aragón located in Madrid. The painting shows Cavalry at night with Christ on the Cross and Mary at his feet. The two angels on both sides of Christ are seen to collect the drops of blood from his body. The altarpiece bearing this painting had many other artworks most of which were made by El Greco.

6 Portrait of Cardinal Nino de Guevara

Completed in: 1598

Style: Portrait (Mannerism)

Measurements: 170.8 cm x 108cm

Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Medium: Oil on canvas

It presents Fernando Niño de Guevara, the Spanish Cardinal, who also served as Spain’s Grand Inquisitor and the Archbishop of Seville. Commissioned by Pedro Lasso, who was known to be a close acquaintance of El Greco, this was perhaps made in 1600 during springtime when the reverend Cardinal had come to Toledo on a visit. The brilliant use of colors gives this painting a rich and grand appearance.

7. The Holy Trinity

Completed in: 1577–1579

Style: Christian art, History painting

Measurements: 300 cm x 179 cm

Location: Museo Nacional Del Prado

Medium: Oil

The heavenly father adorning an Easter miter on his head is seen to carry Christ on his lap. Besides the six angels present in the scene, the heads of many cherubs are seen popping out. The presentation of several contrasting colors on the robes suggests the influence of Michelangelo and Tintoretto in El Greco’s work.

8. The Adoration of the Shepherds

Completed in: 1612 -1614

Style: History painting

Measurements: 319 cm x 180 cm

Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid

Medium: Oil paint

The traditional subject of the shepherds visiting Jesus at the time of his birth forms the main subject matter of this work of art. El Greco had made this for his tomb in Toledo’s Santo Domingo El Antiguo church. The distortion of the figures seen in most of the paintings made in his last days is observed here too. The light emitted from the face of newborn Jesus illuminates the visiting shepherds, and the contrast between the light and dark gives the painting a rhythmic effect, heightening the sense of drama.

9. Resurrection

Completed in: 1600

Style: Christian Art

Measurements: 275cm  x 127 cm

Location: Museo Nacional Del Prado

Medium: Oil on canvas

Another Biblical theme portrayed, showing Christ sans clothes, holding a white banner in hand, which in turn symbolizes victory over death. The purple robe to the left of Christ stands for martyrdom and sacrifice for the wellbeing of humankind. The rhomboid-shaped halo is a reflection of the Byzantine tradition where the cross within a halo symbolizes the holy trinity. The use of close-ups adds dynamism to the painting.

10. Healing of the Man Born Blind

Completed in: 1573

Style: Mannerism

Measurements: 65.5 cm × 84 cm

Location: Galleria Nazionale di Parma

Medium: Oil on canvas,

Another significant Biblical event as mentioned in the Gospel of John, highlighting upon Jesus’ miraculous powers where he heals a man blind from birth. The same theme painted five years back from the completion of this one has been recreated here. The figures dominating the foreground could be the parents of the blind man, though the left-hand corner on the top seems unfinished.

Besides the works mentioned above, his other significant paintings include the Burial of the Count of Orgaz (1588), Opening of the Fifth Seal (1614), and San Sebastian (1578).