While in Venice, he studied with the well-known painter Titian. From Titian he learned the fundamentals of Renaissance art. Around 1576 he decided to move to Toledo, Spain, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. Here he painted View of Toledo, considered the first landscape of Spanish art. I think this haunting depiction of the city of Toledo shows the power of nature. It's as if the sky could open up at any moment and destroy the ghost town below. It is speculated that El Greco painted this landscape as part of a propaganda campaign to encourage Philip II to restore the court of Toledo after abandoning it in 1561 (Piker). The style of Mannerism moved away from the traditional aspects of Renaissance art. “Mannerist art represents tension and anguish, as opposed to the tranquility of Renaissance art” (Cowie). Some also say that this painting is meant to show an apocalyptic vision. “This is a landscape of celestial apocalyptic power: a conversation between heaven and earth next to the cathedral spire. The city scene takes place in the moment before a storm. The sky is literally at war with the setting sun against the storm that is about to explode” (El Greco). Starry Night and View of Toledo are both landscapes that feature a city, a church, and a beautiful night sky. Both artists used the contrast between light and dark to detail their paintings. Both also took the liberty to organize the cities as they saw fit. Although these paintings are landscapes, their themes are quite different. Van Gogh's Starry Night is a more peaceful and quiet depiction of the city below. View of Toledo is a more disturbing painting that depicts a city under a raging storm