el greco was born in crete, which was the center of post-byzantine art at that time. he trained and became a master of that kind of art before travelling at 26 to venice, as other greek artists had done. in 1570, he moved to rome and opened a workshop and made a series of works. while he was in italy, el greco added elements of mannerism and of the venetian renaissance to his style. in 1577, at the age of 36, he moved to toledo, spain, where he lived and worked until his death in 1614. in toledo, el greco painted his best-known paintings.