Museum of El Greco

View of the museum entrance.
Bust of El Greco outside the museum.

The Museum of El Greco (aka El Greco Museum or Domenikos Theotokopoulos Museum[1]) is located on the edge of the village of Fodele in Crete, west of the city of Heraklion. It celebrates the mannerist painter El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos, 1541–1614), who grew up in the village.

Overview

The museum is located around 1 km from the centre of Fodele opposite a chapel and contains copies of works by and documents associated with El Greco. The original building was in a ruinous state but was restored from 1982 onwards through a grant by the Greek Ministry of Culture. The museum opened to the public in 1998.[2] The village of Fodele is claimed as the birthplace of El Greco, but this is disputed.[3] The museum claims to be where El Greco was born.[4]

The Historical Museum of Crete in Heraklion not far away includes two original works by El Greco, the only original works by the artist in Crete.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Domenikos Theotokopoulos Museum — El Greco Museum". Crete-Kreta. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  2. ^ "The Museum of Domenicos Theotokopoulos". www.psfodele.gr. Fodele, Greece. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  3. ^ Kakissis, Joanna (March 6, 2005). "A Cretan village that was the painter's birthplace bridles at a nearby town's claim". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  4. ^ "El Greco Museum". www.interkriti.org. Interkrit. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
  5. ^ El Greco Museum Domenikos Theotokopoulos: Copies of his paintings, Museum Domenikos Theotokopoulos, 2010

35°23′08″N 24°57′03″E / 35.3855°N 24.9508°E / 35.3855; 24.9508