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Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez
1599-1660 Spain/Baroque
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Brief Biography-Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, whose family hailed from Portugal was born in Seville. His first instruction in art as a boy was with Francisco de Herrera, the Elder, for one year, followed by a five-year term under Francisco Pacheco. After his apprenticeship, he became Master Painter of Religious Images, a high honour. He married Pacheco’s daughter Juana in 1618.
When he visited Madrid, his work made such an impression on King Philip IV that he made him a painter of Bed-Chamber to the King. As a result, he gained an income of 20 ducats a month, a house and an annual pension of 300 ducats, and received several other court appointments that absorbed his time, which may be why his output was relatively small.
A visit to Spain by Peter Paul Rubens took the two artists to El Escorial, where observing the art that hung there inspired him to go to Italy. He visited Venice in 1629 and went to Rome and Naples, studying the Italian masters. He returned to Madrid in 1631. In 1633, his daughter Francisca married his student Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo.
In 1648, he was dispatched back to Italy by the King as Ambassador Extraordinary to Pope Innocent X to buy works and have casts made of Greek and Roman sculptures. He visited many cities and met José de Ribera in Naples. In Rome, his portrait of Pope Innocent X gained him Membership in the Academy of Saint Luke.
He returned to Madrid in 1651, and in 1652 the King made him Head Harbinger of his Imperial Palace. He was named Knight of the Order of Santiago in 1658. Two years later, he died of fever in Madrid. Velázquez was principally a portraitist; however, he also painted religious and historical subjects when he found time outside of court painting. Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez is arguably the supreme Spanish painter of all time.
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Philip IV of Spain

Count-Duke

Christ Crucified

Surrender of Breda

Waterselle

Las Meninas

Don Baltsar Carlos

A Lady

Fernando

Queen Dona

Aesop

Abbess Jeronima

Prince Baltasar

Philip the Fourth

Arachne

Democritus

Boffoon Pablo

Breakfast

Dona Antonia

Head of a Stag

Infanta Margarita

Infanta Margarita

Infanta Maria Teresa

Infanta Maria

Infante Felipe

Isabella of Bourbon

Juan Couple

Lady with a Fan

Mars God of War

Joseph's Coat

Martinez Montanes

Menippos

Pedro de Barberana

Peasants

Mercury and Argus

Old Woman

Philip III

Philip IV

Philip IV

Venus at her Mirror

Pope Innocent X

Prince Balthasar

Prince Balthasar

Queen Isabel

Queen Margarita

Saint Ildefonso

Seated Jester

Sibyl

St Anthony Abbot

Head of Apollo

Supper at Emmaus

Adoration

The Coronation

The Fable

The Forge of Vulcan

Jester Don Juan

The Triumph

Villa Medici Grotto

Dwarf Francisco

Christ in the House

Duke of
Olivares

Count Duke

Prince Baltasar

Queen Isabe

White Horse

kitchen maid
