El Greco (National Gallery Co Ltd) [Hardcover]

David Davies (Editor), Prof. John H. Elliott FBA (Editor), Xavier Bray (Contributor), Mr. Keith Christiansen et al. (Contributor), Dr. Gabriele Finaldi (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: National Gallery Co Ltd | Publication Date: October 1, 2003

El Greco (1541-1614), born Domenikos Theotokopoulos, was one of the most fascinating and distinctive artists of the sixteenth century. His works are immediately recognizable for their brilliant colors, elongated figures, and spiritual intensity. Initially trained in Crete, in around 1567 El Greco moved to Italy where he purportedly studied with Titian. A decade later he is documented in Toledo (south of Madrid), and he spent the rest of his long life in Spain. His paintings and writings offer a thoughtful, frequently inspired response to the varied environments in which he worked-and they reveal that he was deeply engaged with the religious and artistic thinking of his times. This lavishly illustrated book-the first comprehensive English-language publication on El Greco in many years-addresses the full range of the artist's work in painting and sculpture, from his Byzantine icons to his late altarpieces. It considers his personality from both a religious and intellectual point of view, and presents the artist's religious, mythological, genre, landscape, and portrait works, providing the historical context in which they were made.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This catalogue, published to accompany a large-scale exhibition of El Greco's work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery in London, presents a hearty portfolio of world-famous images alongside a comprehensive treatment of the artist's intellectual and religious foundations. Born Domenikos Theotokopoulos in Crete in 1541, El Greco moved to Venice in 1567, where he rapidly matured into one of the most daring artists of his time, known for his audacious color palette and ecstatic, elongated figures who often resemble rippling reflections in dark, cosmic waters. With his swooning, mystical compositions, El Greco remains a primary figure both in Renaissance painting and in the development of modern art, a favorite of such masters as Picasso and Cezanne. Treating the early stages of El Greco's work, as well as his lesser-known experiments in sculpture, this authoritative, comprehensive catalogue adds yet another chapter to the artist's permanent record as a looming figure in the history of western art.
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Review

"Essential reading for anyone interested in the life and times of this ever-modern-looking 16th-century ecstatic.” —Alan G. Artner, Chicago Tribune

“El Greco’s towering achievements [are] chronicled in both gloriously rich colorplates and fresh commentary. . . . This magnificent volume renews and deepens appreciation for a master painter for all time and all faiths.”—Booklist

“Splendidly produced [and] . . . a pleasure to read.”—Victoria Keller, The Art Book

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: National Gallery London (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857099338
• ISBN-13: 978-1857099331
• Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars El Greco-The National Gallery, August 20, 2004

By 

Joseph S. Maresca "Dr. Joseph S. Maresca CPA,... (Bronxville, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: El Greco (National Gallery London Publications) (Paperback)

This book is a marvel. The full color pictures of the View of
Toledo, The Crucifixion, The Martyr of Saint Maurice and the
Baptism of Christ are worth the price paid. The text describes
how the Latin West, Eastern Orthodox-Greek and Islam coexisted
in the 16th century. This book would be perfect for historians,
artists, cultural enthusiasts and a wide constituency of
scholars in almost every area of formal academe.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Collection, December 31, 2003

By 

Eve Nevarre "Raven" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: El Greco (National Gallery Co Ltd) (Hardcover)

It is about time that a book come out on the brillian artist that is Domenikos Theonopolis! Ever since I visited Spain in 1994 I have been an avid fan of El Greco but sadly have been unable to find any books on him until now. This is a wonderful book celebrating the prolific works of this genius. It is a beautiful collection full of amazingly colored images and information about El Greco. Whether an avid fan or just wanting to learn more about this artist, this book is an excellent resource.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best EL GRECO book I've seen., April 27, 2010

By 

ASW (San Diego) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: El Greco (Hardcover)

The other reviews cover the text, so I will answer the one question you can never know when buying an art book online- are the reproductions good? Yes, they are terrific.