1541 – Birth of Doménikos Theotokópoulos in Crete, then part of the Republic of Venice.
1560s – Trains as a painter in the Byzantine tradition in Crete.
1567 – Moves to Venice, where he studies the work of masters like Titian and Tintoretto.
1570 – Travels to Rome, continuing his artistic development and gaining exposure to Renaissance art.
1577–1578 – Arrives in Toledo, where he will spend the rest of his life and produce his most important works.
1578 – Birth of his son Jorge Manuel Theotokópoulos with Jerónima de las Cuevas.
1586–1588 – Paints The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, one of his most famous masterpieces, for the Church of Santo Tomé in Toledo.
1590s – Achieves recognition in Toledo, producing numerous religious commissions and developing his distinctive elongated style.
1604 – Death of his brother Manussos Theotocópoulos in Toledo.
1605 – Birth of his grandson Gabriel de los Morales.
1614 – Death of El Greco in Toledo.
17th–18th centuries – His work falls into relative obscurity and is often misunderstood.
19th century – Rediscovery of El Greco by scholars and artists.
20th century – His influence is recognized in modern art movements such as Expressionism and Cubism.