From the artist's life
In Las Meninas Velázquez painted himself at the easel — and a mirror at the back reflects the king and queen, placing the royal couple where we, the viewers, stand.
Source: Wikipedia / WikimediaBaroque
Diego Velazquez
Diego Velázquez (1599–1660) was the leading painter of the Spanish Golden Age and court artist to King Philip IV. His masterpiece Las Meninas is one of the most analysed paintings in history.
Manet called him the painter of painters; his free brushwork pointed straight toward Impressionism two centuries early.
- Court painter to Philip IV, he portrayed royalty, dwarves and gods with equal humanity.
- Las Meninas plays a dazzling game with mirror, viewer and the act of painting itself.
- His loose, optical brushwork deeply influenced Manet and the Impressionists.
Key works
Where to start
Complete list of key works
Works with a dedicated ArtAtlas page are highlighted in gold.
- Las MeninasOn ArtAtlas
- Las HilanderasOn ArtAtlas
- The Surrender of BreaListed for reference
- The Triumph of BacchusListed for reference
- Apollo in the Forge of VulcanListed for reference
- The Waterseller of SevilleListed for reference
- Christ in the House of Martha and MaryListed for reference
- Equestrian Portrait of Philip IVListed for reference
1656
Las Meninas
Las Meninas is a 1656 painting in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, by Diego Velázquez, the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV of Spain and Portugal, and of the Spanish Golden Age.
1655
Las Hilanderas
Las Hilanderas is a painting by the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, in the Museo del Prado of Madrid, Spain. It is also known by the title The Fable of Arachne. Most scholars regard it as a late work by the artist, dating from 1657 to 1658, but some argue that it was done c.