Doménikos Theotokópoulos, better known as El Greco (“The Greek”) was born in 1541 on the island of Crete, then part of the Republic of Venice and known as the Kingdom of Candia. At the age of 26, he left his native island for Venice, and later Rome, to pursue his craft as a painter before a broader audience. During his time in Italy, he absorbed the influences of the Mannerist movement and the Venetian School. Combining these with his early training in Byzantine icon painting, El Greco developed a unique style consisting og elongated figures and dramatic lighting — which puzzled many of his contemporaries. Eventually, El Greco settled in Toledo, Spain, where he spent the rest of his life. It was in Toledo that he created his most famous works, including this, the 'View of Toledo'. Although he achieved some recognition during his lifetime, it wasn’t until the 20th century that his visionary work was fully appreciated and celebrated as a precursor to modern expressionism.