The Baroque period in Spain was characterized by the Catholic Counter-Reformation and absolutist monarchies. Artists like El Greco explored Catholic mysticism, while architects designed grand buildings like El Escorial for King Philip II. Diego Velazquez served as court painter to Philip IV and painted masterworks like Las Meninas. Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote contrasted reality and fantasy and became a great work of the 17th century. The Baroque style spread to Italy where artists like Bernini and Caravaggio created dramatic works through effects of light and movement. Opera also originated in Italy in the early 17th century. Absolutism flourished across Europe with monarchies like that of Louis XIV