Diego Rodreguez de Silva y Velasquez
(June 6, 1599 - August 6, 1660) |
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portraiture Art Work
| Name: |
Diego Rodreguez de Silva y Velasquez |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Place of Birth: |
Seville, Spain |
| Nationality: |
Spanish |
| Birth: |
June 6, 1599 |
| Death: |
August 6, 1660 |
| Website: |
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| Past Auctions: |
Click Here |
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Quick Facts
| Known For: |
portraiture |
| Medium: |
oil painting |
| Method: |
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| Style: |
Contemporary Baroque |
| Fine Art Profession(s): |
Painter
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Biography
Diego Rodreguez de Silva y Velasquez was a Spanish painter, primarily of portraiture, and court artist for King Philip IV. He was a distinctive artist of the contemporary baroque period, and his subjects comprised of historical narratives and portrait of both royalty and nobles as well as commoners.
Born into minor gentry, Velasquez was intended for an educated profession, but turned to painting, having shown a talent for art early on. His early training came from painter Francisco de Herrera, and Velasquez served his apprenticeship under Francisco Pacheco, whose daughter he would later marry.
In 1622, the painter traveled to Madrid to paint the portrait of Don Juan de Fonseca. A commission from Philip IV followed immediately and Velasquez became a quick favorite of the king's. By 1624, Velasquez had moved permanently to Madrid to work in the royal court. During his time in court, Velasquez painted countless portraits of the royal family and nobility there. The artist also traveled twice to Italy with the sponsorship of Philip IV, where he was received very favorably. On his second trip, Velasquez also produced portraits of the Duke of Modena and Pope Innocent X.
By 1651, Velasquez had returned to Spain on the request of the king. In 1656, Velasquez painted his most famous work, Las Meninas. The painting includes portraits of Philip IV's youngest daught, the artist, as well as the monarch and his wife. Las Meninas, along with the Portrait of Pope Innocent X, would inspire expressionistic reinterpretations by Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon respectively. Indeed, many artists of both the realist and impressionist schools drew inspiration from Velasquez in posterity. |
Samples of Work
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