Velasquez
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velasquez, known simply as Diego Velasquez or Velazquez, was a Spanish painter born in 1599 who came to be King Philip IV’s leading artist and one of the greatest masters in art history. His detailed portraits of the Spanish court and unique brushwork during the Baroque art period led to his influence on both the Realist and Impressionist art movements. Esteemed artists such as Manet, Picasso and Dali have all paid tribute by recreating many of his works, in particular his most famous masterpiece, Las Meninas.
In 1618 Velasquez married the daughter of his tutor, Pacheco, and began his early career with works that incorporated everyday objects such as earthenware jars and marketplace fruit. These series of paintings became known as ‘bodegones’ and were characterised by the depiction of humble street life in a solemn light. Arguably his finest piece of this period is The Water-Seller of Seville. With his religious works such as The Apostle St Thomas and Adoration of the Kings, also painted around this time, Velasquez started to inject a new level of realism into his work.
By 1623 Philip IV and the Count-Duke of Olivares had requested Velasquez to move to Madrid so that he could become the King’s chosen portrait painter, with all other portraits of the King to be removed from circulation. In addition to the King himself Velasquez frequently painted the Queen and their children, especially the heir to the throne, Don Baltasar Carlos. However, it was Margarita, the eldest daughter of the King’s second wife, who was to be the subject of his most famous work, Las Meninas, painted 4 years before the artist’s death.
Another famous portraiture was that of Pope Innocent X, painted during the artist’s second visit to Italy. The bold style matches the rather ruthless expression of the Pope’s countenance and it was feared in the Vatican that the painting and Velásquez would not be met with favour. Despite these fears, the Pope was delighted with both the artist and the portrait, ensuring that the latter be hung in his official visitor’s waiting room.
Velasquez's first visit to Italy, which was undertaken in the company Ambrosia Spínola had inspired The Surrender of Breda, a masterpiece portraying the Spanish army conquering the Dutch city of Breda, of which Spínola had played a significant role. Velasquez's visits to Italy and his personal selection of works by the world’s leading artists for Philip IV, meant that he gained a great insight to art over his 40 year professional career. He was able to gather all of this accumulated knowledge in his final pieces, one of the most notable of which is The Spinners, painted in 1657. Throughout his career he gained the respect and admiration of powerful people and his royal appointment to Philip IV not only helped to provide subjects for some of his greatest works, it also helped The Rokeby Venus to escape the censorship of the Inquisition.
In 1618 Velasquez married the daughter of his tutor, Pacheco, and began his early career with works that incorporated everyday objects such as earthenware jars and marketplace fruit. These series of paintings became known as ‘bodegones’ and were characterised by the depiction of humble street life in a solemn light. Arguably his finest piece of this period is The Water-Seller of Seville. With his religious works such as The Apostle St Thomas and Adoration of the Kings, also painted around this time, Velasquez started to inject a new level of realism into his work.
By 1623 Philip IV and the Count-Duke of Olivares had requested Velasquez to move to Madrid so that he could become the King’s chosen portrait painter, with all other portraits of the King to be removed from circulation. In addition to the King himself Velasquez frequently painted the Queen and their children, especially the heir to the throne, Don Baltasar Carlos. However, it was Margarita, the eldest daughter of the King’s second wife, who was to be the subject of his most famous work, Las Meninas, painted 4 years before the artist’s death.
Another famous portraiture was that of Pope Innocent X, painted during the artist’s second visit to Italy. The bold style matches the rather ruthless expression of the Pope’s countenance and it was feared in the Vatican that the painting and Velásquez would not be met with favour. Despite these fears, the Pope was delighted with both the artist and the portrait, ensuring that the latter be hung in his official visitor’s waiting room.
Velasquez's first visit to Italy, which was undertaken in the company Ambrosia Spínola had inspired The Surrender of Breda, a masterpiece portraying the Spanish army conquering the Dutch city of Breda, of which Spínola had played a significant role. Velasquez's visits to Italy and his personal selection of works by the world’s leading artists for Philip IV, meant that he gained a great insight to art over his 40 year professional career. He was able to gather all of this accumulated knowledge in his final pieces, one of the most notable of which is The Spinners, painted in 1657. Throughout his career he gained the respect and admiration of powerful people and his royal appointment to Philip IV not only helped to provide subjects for some of his greatest works, it also helped The Rokeby Venus to escape the censorship of the Inquisition.
The Surrender of Breda, 1625, detail of soldiers with lances, c.1635
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez
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Las Meninas or The Family of Philip IV , detail of the artist at his easel, c.1656
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez
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St. John the Evangelist on the Island of Patmos, c.1618
Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez
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