jeudi 26 juin 2014

Paintings By Velazquez

By Darren Hartley


Velazquez paintings are famous for their portraits, which rank among the finest in world art. Diego Velazquez was the greatest among all Spanish painters. Diego spent most of his life in Madrid where he was the favourite artist of King Philip IV, who let no other artist paint him.

The best known among the snapshot-like Velazquez paintings was a large group portrait of maids of honor, entitled Las Meninas, completed in 1656. It depicted Velazquez at his easel with members of the court. The young attendants who were part of the portrait were the ones who gave the title to the painting.

The early Velazquez paintings were made up of traditional religious themes favoured by his master, Francisco Pacheco, a local painter, with whom Diego spent a six year apprenticeship, starting at the age of 11. The naturalism of Italian painter, Caravaggio, also had an influence on him. Diego was born in Seville, Spain, in June 6, 1599.

After Diego painted a portrait of the Count-Duke of Olivares, the Count-Duke recommended Diego to be a court painter for King Philip IV. The young king of Spain, after seeing a completed portrait among the Velazquez paintings, decided to contract his services.

Among the last Velazquez paintings was a group of mythological scenes for the Alcazar palace. Royal portraits remained to be on top of Diego's priorities as far as painting is concerned. These portraits would include that of Philip IV of Spain. In 1658, he was made a Knight of Santiago, an honour Diego had always desired.

Velazquez paintings are considered to be works of one of the great masters of Western art. He is considered as a strong influence by artists of the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. French impressionist, Edouard Manet described Diego as the painter of painters.




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