Las Meninas represents the court of all who wait upon Margarita Theresa. This is the last painted image of the King by the man who served as his court artist from 1623. Baroque: Diego Velázquez. Diego Velázquez was one of the most famous Spanish painters of the Golden Age, whose repertoire consisted in paintings of the Spanish Royal family and religious scenes. Portrait of Count-Duke Olivares by Diego de Silva Velázquez Working at the court of Philip IV, Velasquez repeatedly wrote portraits of the king and his family members. With his appointment as court painter, the direction of Velázquez's work changed. One of the greatest exponents of Spanish painting, the artist Diego Velazquez was a court painter to King Philip IV during the period of the Spanish Baroque.Although a master of history painting and genre-painting (bodegones), he is renowned for … The splendid royal court of Philip IV of Spain was made even more splendid by the art of the official court painter, Diego Velazquez. In the 17th century, Spain was a country in decline. He looks middle-aged, and tired: his sagging flesh and puffy eyes suggest the weight of responsibility resting on his shoulders during his long reign (1621–65). At first glance, Diego Velázquez's 1656 painting Las Meninas might seem like just another ensemble portrait. The Drunks is dotted with small but befuddlingly three-dimensional still lifes—a glistening terracotta jug, an overflowing white wine bowl, a cup that seems to glow in a grey-haired peasant’s hand—that pay tribute to the the Sevillian painter’s bodegón roots. Prado Museum, Madrid. Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (baptized June 6, 1599 – August 6, 1660) was a Spanish painter, the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV and of the Spanish Golden Age.He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period. Diego Velazquez was court painter to King Philip IV during the early era of Spanish Baroque art (1600-1700). Philip was so delighted with the result that he immediately appointed Velázquez as one of his court painters, and from then on would allow no one else to paint him In 1623, thanks to his father-in-law's connections, Velázquez was asked to paint a portrait of the young King Philip IV. (Photo: Museo del Prado via Wikimedia Commons [Public Domain]) Spanish artist Diego Velázquez was the court painter for King Philip IV and known for his expressive portraits which captured the physical likeness and personality of his subjects. Diego Velázquez (1599–1660), Philip IV, Standing (1624) [26], oil on canvas, 200 x 102.9 cm, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY. Spanish Baroque Painter. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period. Diego Velázquez plays another crucial character in the Infanta’s painting. Born in 1599 in Seville, Diego Velazquez showed an early ability for art, and was apprenticed to become a painter. “The Artist as Curator: Diego Velázquez, 1623-1660” reconsiders the career of Diego Velázquez at the court of Hapsburg king Philip IV as a major episode in the history of curatorial practice. Today’s historical artist is Diego Velazquez, a court painter (mostly of portraits) for the king of Spain in the 17th Century. The Surrender of Breda (detail) (1634-5). Born in Seville, Velázquez adopted his mothers surname, as was common in Andalusia, signing “Diego Velázquez” or “Diego de Silva Velázquez". He began to paint in a precise tenebrist style, later developing a … Diego Velázquez, “Las Meninas,” 1656-7. ... Las Meninas is a behind-the-scenes look at the Spanish court. Velázquez was born in 1599 in Seville in southern Spain, at that time an important city with a thriving artistic community. Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter, the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV and of the Spanish Golden Age. Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) began his apprenticeship with Francisco Pacheco in 1611 and from this time onwards, his successful career as an artist was set in motion. By Dan in Research > Historical Artists. On 6 October 1623, he was appointed a Painter Royal, and embarked on his long career at court with his major patron, Philip IV. Many of Velazquez's models would not survive long unfortuantely, meaning that visual records of them by court painters were especially important. Artist Work as court painter. Within two years, Velazquez was paid to move his family to Madrid, which became his home for the rest of his life. ‘The painter is a rare fixed point’ … from Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez. Velázquez painted many portraits of Philip IV, King of Spain, throughout his reign. Diego Velázquez was a prolific artist who went on to become court painter for King Philip IV. In addition to numerous r Not once posed for him and the chief minister of the court,... Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez The painting is a famous creation of artist Diego Velasquez. He depicts himself at work. ‘Saint Thomas’ was created in 1620 by Diego Velazquez in Baroque style. Velázquez portrays himself, painting this very painting, on the left of the image, facing a canvas and holding a paintbrush. He studied painting and worked professionally in his native city until he was twenty-four, then moved with his family to Madrid. Although noted for both his history painting and genre-painting ( bodegons ), he is best-known for his portraiture - completing over 20 portraits of the King … For over 350 years, art lovers have been fascinated by Las Meninas.This complex oil painting by Diego Velázquez is an incredibly nuanced depiction of life in the court of King Philip IV of Spain.Perhaps one of the most important paintings in all of Western art history, this masterpiece from 1656 continues to influence artists today. By this it means to examine the ways Velázquez’s activities as a painter and his activities as curator of the Hapsburg art collection transformed each other. One of the best-known examples of Spanish Baroque painting.. Summary. In December 1622, the favorite court painter of young King Philip IV died and the King's minister, Count-Duke of Olivares, summoned Velazquez for the vacant position. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist.