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Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez

1599-1660 Spain/Baroque

 

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 a fever in Madrid. Velázquez was principally a portraitist; however, he also painted religious and historical subjects when he found time outside the court to paint. Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez is arguably the supreme Spanish painter of all time.

 

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Philip IV of Spain

Philip IV of Spain

Count-Duke

Count-Duke of Olivares

Christ Crucified

Christ crucified

Surrender of Breda

Surrender of Breda

Waterselle

Waterseller of Seville

Las Meninas

The Maids of Honour

Don Baltsar Carlos

Don Baltsar Carlos

A Lady

A Lady

Fernando

Fernando of Austria

Queen Dona

Queen Dona Mariana of Austria

Aesop

Aesop

Abbess Jeronima

Abbess Jeronima de la Fuente

Prince Baltasar

Prince Baltasar as Hunter

Philip the Fourth

Philip the Fourth

Arachne

Arachne

Democritus

Democritus

Boffoon Pablo

Boffoon Pablo Valladolid

Breakfast

Breakfast

Dona Antonia

Dona Antonia de Ipenarrieta y Galdos and her Son Luis

Head of a Stag

Head of a Stag

Infanta Margarita

Infanta Margarita as a Girl

Infanta Margarita

Infanta Margarita

Infanta Maria Teresa

Infanta Maria Teresa

Infanta Maria

Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain

Infante Felipe

Infante Felipe Prospero

Isabella of Bourbon

Isabella of Bourbon

Juan Couple

Juan couple

Lady with a Fan

Lady with a Fan

Mars God of War

Mars God of War

Joseph's Coat

Joseph's Bloody Coat Brought to Jacob

Martinez Montanes

Martinez Montanes Running the Bust of Philip Four

Menippos

Menippos

Pedro de Barberana

Pedro de Barberana

Peasants

Peasants at the Table

Mercury and Argus

Mercury and Argus

Old Woman

Old Woman frying Eggs

Philip III

Philip three

Philip IV

Philip four

Philip IV

Philip four in Brown and Silver

Venus at her Mirror

Venus at her Mirror

Pope Innocent X

Pope Innocent ten

Prince Balthasar

Prince Balthasar and Dwarf

Prince Balthasar

Prince Balthasar Carlos with the Count Duke of Olivares at the Royal Mews

Queen Isabel

Queen Isabel Standing

Queen Margarita

Queen Margarita

Saint Ildefonso

Saint Ildefonso Receiving the Chasuble from the Virgin

Seated Jester

Seated Jester

Sibyl

Sibyl

St Anthony Abbot

Saint Anthony Abbot and St Paul the Hermit

Head of Apollo

Study for the head of Apollo

Supper at Emmaus

Supper at Emmaus

Adoration

The Adoration of the Magi

The Coronation

The Coronation of Mary

The Fable

The Fable of Arachne

The Forge of Vulcan

The Forge of Vulcan

Jester Don Juan

The Jester Don Juan de Austria

The Triumph

The Triumph of Bacchus

Villa Medici Grotto

Villa Medici Grotto Loggia Facade

Dwarf Francisco

Dwarf Francisco Lezcano

Christ in the House

Christ in the House of Mary and Martha

Duke of Olivares

The Count Duke of Olivares

Count Duke

Count Duke of Olivares

Prince Baltasar

Prince Baltasar Carlos

Queen Isabe

Queen Isabel of Bourbon

White Horse

White Horse

kitchen maid

kitchen maid with the supper at emmaus