Diego Velazquez is the greatest artist not only of the 17th century, but of all time. His skill still inspires contemporary artists and delights viewers. Velazquez - the founder of a psychological portrait, brought the Spanish painting school to a new, higher level. In 1623, he became the court painter of the Spanish king Philip IV, painted many court portraits, but despite the narrow requirements of this genre, Diego Velazquez created real masterpieces. The most famous paintings by Diego Velazquez are stored in various museums on the planet, but today we will collect them in our virtual collection for you!
Great paintings of Diego Velazquez:
1
Meninas (1656)
“Menins” (Canvas size 318 × 276 cm) - the most famous and mysterious picture of the artist, an unsurpassed masterpiece of the portrait genre. Translated from Spanish, the name of the picture means "Maid of honor." The painting is exhibited at the Prado Museum. She was deliberately placed at the eye level of museum visitors. Everyone who approaches the picture mysteriously feels his presence in this strange and mysterious world of portraiture. The canvas, like a time machine, immerses the viewer in the world of illusions of the Spanish court of the mid-17th century.
This is a complex large-scale work, which depicts a royal family along with a five-year-old infante, surrounded by maids of honor and the artist himself. The composition of the picture is unusual. A little girl in a magnificent pink dress with her unusual retinue came to the workshop of Velazquez to observe how the artist paints a portrait of her parents - the king and queen of Spain. From the side, it seems that all the characters are looking at you, but in fact, they are looking at the king and queen, who pose for the artist. Viewers see their reflection in the mirror behind the artist.
The artist created a space that no one had previously depicted. He drew the viewer into the world of his studio and made him look through the eyes of those whom he paints. Moreover, he depicted in the form of the main characters the pictures of dwarfs and maids of honor, and he depicted the king and queen only schematically. Other artists for this liberty could lose their heads, but not Velazquez. For this magic he was appreciated by Philip IV.
Do not miss, on our site most-beauty.ru there is an interesting article about the most famous paintings by Rafael Santi.
2
Portrait of Pope Innocent X (1650)
While in Rome, Velazquez was called to Pope Innocent X. The portrait of the pope that the artist worked on was so realistic that the pontiff himself exclaimed, “Too true!” Pope Innocent X was a very cruel and unprincipled person, but he praised the work of the artist, for Velazquez saw the true human face of a man whose power extended over half the world. He portrayed dad as an ordinary man with all his passions.
This is a very elegant and beautiful portrait, which is based on a red and white range. The first thing that catches your eye is the exquisite silk of the scarlet papal mantle and the snow-white lace of a robe against the dark burgundy background of velvet drapery. Papa's gaze and watchful gaze is directed toward the viewer, and as if evaluating the one who is standing in front of him.
3
Spinners (1657)
This is the work of a mature artist. It was written in the last years of Velazquez's life, and reflects his highest skill and ability to portray various textures and perspectives. This is a real picture in the picture, because in the background of everything that happens is a huge tapestry, which is considered by minor characters. It was originally supposed to be a tapestry workshop. But in fact, this is an interpretation of the myth of the dispute between Athena and Arachne, who is more straining the yarn. In the foreground is Athena. She is depicted facing the viewer, on the head of an elderly woman a white scarf. Arachne sits with his back to the viewer. The young spinner is completely absorbed in the spinning process. In the end, Arachne won the dispute, for which she was turned into a spider by the vengeful goddess.
4
Portrait of the Infanta Margarita, daughter of Philip (1655)
A small portrait, only 60 by 70 cm, depicts a baby infant, who was barely four years old. This is one of the first portraits of the future empress of the Holy Roman Empire, from a whole gallery of portraits that Velazquez painted. He was fascinated by the girl, and all the children's and teenage portraits of the Infanta glow with the warmth with which the artist portrayed his beloved model. Despite the stringent requirements of the royal portrait, Velazquez portrayed a lovely child with a clean open look. The girl was allowed to hold onto the table, as posing took a lot of time, and it was difficult for a small child to resist in a heavy dress. The baby’s childhood ended at age 14, when she was married to her uncle, Holy Roman Emperor. Seven years later, at the age of 21, after the birth of a sixth child, she died.
5
Portrait of the Infanta Margarita in a Blue (Blue) Dress (1659)
The portrait of a nine-year-old infante is very different from her portraits at an early age. A heavy, fettering dress made of blue velvet makes the girl look very adult. Her eyes no longer shine with purity and curiosity, as in previous portraits. In these big and beautiful eyes - emptiness and fatigue. But still, the girl is lovely. Her cute little face has not yet acquired the famous "Habsburg" features. This is one of the most beautiful portraits of the infant.
6
Infanta Margarita in Pink (1660)
Margarita is ten years old. The immense crinoline caught up with the princess’s growth, the hairstyle similar to a complex structure. The girl’s look is doomed. She knows what awaits her - unconditional marriage and departure to a foreign country. But still, she is a beautiful gem in the imperial crown. Blond hair, a gentle face, a regal dress, covered with a transparent veil with pink stripes, create a very delicate and touching image.
This is the last portrait of the infante by Velazquez. In August of the same year, he passed away, leaving behind a beautiful children's portraits of a little lovely infante. No one else wrote it like that. Looking at the subsequent portraits of Margarita, we can say that Velazquez adored his model, and love, as you know, turns even the most ordinary-looking woman into a beauty.
7
Portrait of Sebastian de Morra (1664)
Sebastian de Morra is a court dwarf and a jester of many jesters, “gnomes” and freaks at the court of the Spanish king Philip IV. These are the living toys of the royal couple. Looking at the portrait, you can see how much pain and despair in the smart eyes of a man mutilated by nature. After all, these people, with congenital anomalies, were not devoid of intelligence and various talents. But their place was determined by the fashion of that time. Perhaps their life at court was not the worst of all the lives of ordinary Spaniards. But, accustomed to humiliation, they corresponded to their image of stupid jesters. They were treated like house lapdogs or monkeys, they were not hurt, but they were not interested in their personal aspirations.
But Sebastian de Morra is not an easy dwarf. This is a noble nobleman who was born with a rare disease - osteochondrodysplasia, which, distorting the body, does not violate the human mind and psyche. The dwarf was very smart, competent, possessed of sparkling humor and irony, remarkable strength and male charisma. The whole court gossiped about his amorous victories.
8
Portrait of the court jester "El Primo" (1644)
Diego Velazquez is a master of striking portraits. Among the paintings of monarchs and court persons, many portraits of court dwarfs are known. In the period from 1630-1640, the artist painted a series of images of small people. In them, he reflected their character and tragic essence. One of these works is an image of the jester El Primo (translated from Spanish as “cousin”). When a person was alive, his name was Don Diego de Asedo. He held a special position with King Philip IV - he was the keeper of the royal seal and the personal messenger of the king. The painting depicts a puny little man holding a large tome in his hands. Dwarfs and close relatives (cousins) had the privilege of staying in a hat under the king. Perhaps it was because of this privilege that they called it at the court of Don Diego de Asedo.
This work is full of sharp drama. The dwarf's face is very intelligent and glows with a noble mind. But its physical defects: the hump, small arms and legs, can not be called ugly. Against the background of other portraits of dwarfs, this man looks very dignified.
9
Portrait of the Count - Duke of Olivares (1638)
To complete our review on the most-beauty portrait of Prime Minister Don Gasparo de Guzmán, Count Olivares of the Duke of San Lucar de Barracudo. This is an ordinary chest portrait of a courtier, but it is he who reveals the personal qualities of this person. Despite a rather mediocre appearance, the duke had a steel character. Clever, cunning, insightful, this man had almost unlimited power for twenty-three years in a row.
Afterword
Velazquez was in a very warm relationship with the king. Not a single painter enjoyed such monarch support and friendship. The death of Velazquez made a strong impression on the king. “I am broken,” the king wrote on a sheet introducing a new court painter.
But on this, our article about the most famous paintings by Diego Velazquez came to an end, but this artist had so many works that the most-beauty editors decided to add a few more to the end of this material.
Christ in the house of Martha and Mary (1620)
Adoration of the Magi (1619)
Coronation of Our Lady (1644)
Dinner at Emmaus (1618)
Equestrian portrait of the Earl-Duke of Olivares (1634)
Vulcan Forge (1630)
Equestrian portrait of Prince Balthazar Carlos (1635)
Portrait of Philip IV (1624)
Crucifixion of Christ (1632)
The Triumph of Bacchus (1628)
Surrender of the Delirium (1635)
Portrait of Juan de Pareja (1650)
That's all! We look forward to hearing from you.