El Greco was born, Domenikos Theotokopoulos on the island of Crete located in Greece on October 1, 1541. His father was a tax collector and there is not much information out there about his mother. Theotokopoulos’s brother was a merchant who did pretty well for himself however he spent the last few years of his life living with his brother.

He went to Cretan School where he studied various types of art. A main focus of study for him during this time was Post-Byzantine Art as well as classics and ancient greek art. Around 1567 he left to pursue an art career in Venice, Italy but soon after moving there, he moved to Rome, Italy. In 1577 he left Italy and moved to Spain where he spent the majority of his life and where he died. He moved to Toledo, Spain where he completed nine paintings for the church of Santa Domingo one of which was The Assumption of the Virgin. Soon after he had done some commission pieces for the king of Spain, King Phillip II. 

From 1597 to 1607 El Greco experienced great success. During this time he painted in the styles of, painting, sculpture, and architecture while later being known for his contributions to Mannerism and the Spanish Renaissance movements. He died soon after this increase in artwork on April 7, 1614, in Toledo, Spain, and was buried at the church for which he did many paintings for.