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How did El Greco’s Apostolados combine Byzantine and Venetian artistic elements?
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El Greco
Burial of the Count de Orgaz, oil on canvas by El Greco, 1586–88; in the church of Santo Tomé, Toledo, Spain.
El Greco’s Apostolados—two series of canvases depicting Christ and the Twelve Apostles—serve as a prime example of how the artist synthesized his diverse cultural and artistic background.
He combined these influences in the following ways:
- Byzantine Elements: The frontal, iconic pose of the blessing Christ figure in these series is directly evocative of medieval Byzantine art, reflecting the artist's Greek heritage and early training.1
- Venetian Elements: While the composition draws on Byzantine tradition, the color palette and the specific handling of the brushwork are rooted in the Venetian school of painting, which El Greco mastered during his time in Italy under the influence of Titian.21
By merging these distinct traditions with the intense, devotional spirit of the Spanish Counter-Reformation, El Greco created works of profound emotional power that transcended the conventional artistic schools of his time.1