Velázquez

Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period and a leading figure of the Spanish Golden Age. Born in Seville, he trained with Francisco Pacheco and moved to Madrid in 1622–23 to become the court painter to King Philip IV, a post he held throughout his life. Velázquez established himself as a master of naturalistic observation, combining precise likenesses with a painterly handling of light and color.

His work is characterized by a calm, observational approach to reality, sophisticated tonal interplay, and a confident, often loose brushwork that builds form through subtle contrasts. He produced portraits, genre scenes, and large-scale history paintings, frequently staging figures within carefully composed interiors and landscapes to convey mood and narrative. Velázquez’s portraits are noted for psychological depth and immediacy, while his grand compositions reveal a sense of theatre and momentary life.

Notable works include Las Meninas (1656), a complex royal family portrait celebrated for its innovative perspective and self-reflexive elements; The Surrender of Breda (1634–35), praised for its humane treatment of conflict and balanced composition; and the portrait of Juan de Pareja (c. 1650), a dignified study of his enslaved assistant who became a painter. Velázquez’s influence extends across generations and geographies; he is widely regarded as a master of realism and painterly technique.

Many of his works are housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, with important pieces in international collections such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.