El Greco - An Account of His Life and Works #266277

Until the fifteenth century painting had found no home in Spain. The first, as it has remained the strongest expression in art of this remarkable people, was in sculpture and in building, an expression which gave emphasis to their special dramatic temperament. The carving and mould ing of wood, and stone, and iron in the fifteenth century had reached a high level of accomplish ment, and in no country in Europe can be seen more wonderful early carvings than on the tombs in such cathedrals as those of Toledo, Zamora, and Leon. In these works, with their dramatic conceptions, finding its expression in a wealth of interesting details, never quite without the ten dency to over-emphasis of statement, which marks the art of this people, we see best the finely dramatic and realistic manner that belongs. To'spain. It is a pity that these characteristic works are hardly known they are the base of all Spanish art.