Greek-born Spanish Mannerist Painter, 1541-1614
Considered a representative of late Renaissance Spanish art, El Greco was actually born in Greece, on the island of Crete. After studying in Venice under Titian, El Greco settled in Toledo, Spain in 1577. At the time he was wildly popular, his emotionally religious paintings being just the ticket for the hometown of the Spanish Inquisition. After his death his work was largely ignored until the beginning of the 20th century; now he considered one of the inspired geniuses of Western art. His distinctive style features bold shapes and colors, with elongated and slightly distorted figures.
In Toledo El Greco was in constant demand and liked living large: he maintained a private orchestra to accompany his meals. Related Paintings of El Greco :. | The Opening of the Fifth Seal | Laokoon | The Opening of the Fifth Seal | The Assumption of the Virgin | The family of El Greco | Related Artists:
Saloman van Ruysdael1600-1670
Dutch
Saloman van Ruysdael Gallery
Piotr Michalowski(July 2, 1800 - June 9, 1855) was a Polish painter of the Romantic period, especially known for his many portraits.
His talent was long underestimated, but he was re-discovered by Pablo Picasso in 1948. When the painter visited Poland, he saw Michałowski's work in the Warsaw National Museum and shouted, "Here, painter!"
The Sukiennice Museum, a division of the National Museum in Krakew, contains a room devoted to Michałowski's work.
Hendrick van Balen the Elderpainted The Wedding of Thetis and Perseus with Apollo and the Concert of the Muses, or The Feast of the Gods in ca. 1618