Diego Velázquez: A Journey Through the Master’s Art

Posted on May 7, 2024 in History

Stage Consolidation in Court

Upon returning to Italy, Velázquez resumed his artistic activities, contributing to the decoration of a new palace. He created masterpieces like the Surrender of Breda (also known as Las Lanzas), depicting the Spanish victory over the Dutch. Other notable works from this period include Mars, Menippus, Aesop, The Crucified Christ, The Coronation of the Duke of Olivares, and portraits of court dwarfs and jesters like Sebastián de Morra and Don Juan de Austria.

Second Trip to Italy

Velázquez’s second trip to Italy was driven by a desire to study the art of the past and reconnect with mythological allegories. In Rome, he painted portraits, including the iconic Portrait of Pope Innocent X, and small canvases like Views of the Garden of the Villa Medici in Rome, which foreshadowed Impressionist painting. He also created the renowned nude Venus of the Mirror.

Last Years

After returning from Italy, Velázquez continued painting and decorating the Royal Alcazar of Madrid, leading to his appointment as Palace Quartermaster. His later works include a series of four mythological canvases, including Mercury and Argus. This final stage also saw the creation of masterpieces like The Spinners (or The Fable of Arachne) and the legendary Las Meninas. Velázquez died in Madrid on August 6, 1660.

Analysis of Key Works

Las Lanzas (The Surrender of Breda)

  • Author: Diego Velázquez
  • Style: Baroque
  • Technique: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 307 x 367 cm
  • Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid
  • Theme: Historical commemorative painting
  • Analysis: Depicts the moment Justinus van Nassau surrenders Breda to Ambrosio Spinola. The painting is characterized by its Baroque dynamism, with a focus on the horse’s gesture. Velázquez portrays the scene with an affable and gentlemanly tone, contrasting the victors and the vanquished. The background features a beautiful landscape with a colorful green and blue sky.

Portrait of Pope Innocent X

  • Author: Diego Velázquez
  • Chronology: 1650
  • Style: Baroque
  • Technique: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 140 x 120 cm
  • Location: Galleria Doria Pamphilj, Rome
  • Theme: Portrait
  • Analysis: Considered one of Velázquez’s best portraits, it showcases his loose and determined technique and his ability to capture psychological features. The Pope is depicted seated on a chair, wearing white lace, with a symphony of red hues throughout the painting. The portrait’s face is sharp and natural, anticipating Impressionism.

The Spinners (The Fable of Arachne)

  • Author: Diego Velázquez
  • Style: Baroque
  • Technique: Oil on canvas
  • Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid
  • Theme: Mythological
  • Analysis: Depicts the fable of Arachne, a skilled weaver who challenged the goddess Minerva to a weaving contest. The painting is divided into two parts: the foreground shows a tapestry workshop, while the background depicts Minerva punishing Arachne. Velázquez’s masterful treatment of light, aerial perspective, and movement is evident. The painting’s composition and technical solutions anticipate Impressionism.

Las Meninas

  • Author: Diego Velázquez
  • Chronology: 1656
  • Style: Baroque
  • Technique: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 310 x 276 cm
  • Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid
  • Theme: Collective portrait
  • Analysis: A complex and enigmatic masterpiece, Las Meninas plays with the viewer’s perspective, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. Velázquez includes himself in the painting, along with the Infanta Margarita Teresa and her attendants. The painting is renowned for its masterful use of light, shadow, and perspective, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere.