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El Greco lived in Toledo in the late 16th century during his best years as a painter and died there.  As I was enjoying this vista of Toledo, I remembered how I came to know this expressive painter, even before Van Gogh or Picasso.

When I was growing up in Japan, my family lived for several years near the city of Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture.  The Ohara Museum of Art in Kurashiki was, and still is, well-known for El Greco's Annunciation in its collection.  But that was of little importance to me as a 7 or 8-year-old.  When I first heard the name, I thought El Greco sounded very exotic and wondered if it was expensive European sweets or something.  It was years later I was able to appreciate more the fact such a masterpiece of this great painter was so near to see.  I now agree with so many Japanese who think it is almost a miracle (A story of how this painting came to Japan can be read in the link above "Annunciation").


Toledo, Spain IV

Click here for an enlarged view of this painting.

Media: Original watercolor on paper
Image Size: 8.25 x 11.5 in. (on 9 x 12 in. paper)
Mat/Frame: No
Purchase: Sold