View of Toledo is a painting by which artist?

• A. Diego Velázquez
• B. Pablo Picasso
• C. Francisco Goya
• D. El Greco

Answer: (D)

View of Toledo is attributed to El Greco. The idea being tested is recognizing whose distinctive hand created a dramatic, otherworldly landscape. This painting shows the city of Toledo set against a luminous, turbulent sky, with elongated forms and a sculptural, spiritual light—traits that are characteristic of El Greco’s late Renaissance/Mannerist style. He often used dramatic contrasts and stretched figures or silhouettes to convey a sense of awe and transcendence, especially in his Toledo works. The other artists listed come from different European traditions: Velázquez is known for precise realism and court scenes, Picasso for modernist experimentation and abstraction, and Goya for Romantic and later darker, more dramatic themes. The mood, brushwork, and compositional choices of this piece align with El Greco’s distinctive approach, making him the best match.