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 :. | Christ Healing the Blind | assumption of the virgin,detail | Burial of the Cout of Orgaz | Burial of Count Orgaz | Portrait of a Cardinal | Related Artists:
George WillisonPortrait painter who was born in Edinburgh in 1741 and returned there to spend his retirement.
He was a pupil of Mengs in Rome, before Mengs left for Madrid in 1761.
He painted "Boswell" in Rome in 1765 which is now in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
Willison was in London from 1767 and exhibited at the Scottish Academy between 1767 - 1770, and at the Royal Academy in 1771 and 1772.
He left London for an opulent retirement in Edinburgh around 1784.
John Frost1890-1936
Francesco FracanzanoItalian ,
b. Monopoli 1612-d.1656 Naples
Naples.Brother of Cesare Francanzano. He moved to Naples in 1622 with Cesare and like him entered Ribera's workshop. In 1632 he married Salvator Rosa's sister Giovanna. His early style remains obscure. Bologna (1958) attributed a group of paintings to him that show half-length figures against a predominantly dark background, painted in deep colours with loaded brushstrokes. These pictures, among them two versions of the Prodigal Son.