Minggu, 22 Juni 2014

Paintings Of Velazquez

By Darren Hartley


Velazquez paintings are famous for their portraits, which rank among the finest in world art. Diego Velazquez was the greatest among all Spanish painters. Diego spent most of his life in Madrid where he was the favourite artist of King Philip IV, who let no other artist paint him.

Velazquez visited Italy twice. It was during these visits that he was able to include a portrait of Pope Innocent X among the Velazquez paintings. This was in 1650. The pope said the painting was so truthful in the vivid way the picture caught his character. He was truly impressed.

In 1618, Diego married Juana, the daughter of Francisco Pacheco, a local painter, with whom he spent a 6 year apprenticeship with. By 1621, the couple had two daughters. Through the connections his father in law had, Diego was able to move to Madrid in 1622. The Court-Duke of Olivares was one of the earliest sitters for the portraits that comprised the Velazquez paintings.

From June 1629 to January 1631, Diego travelled to Italy. It was there that he was influenced by the great artists of the region. Upon his return to Madrid, he began a series of Velazquez paintings consisting of portraits featuring the members of the royal family on horseback.

Among the last Velazquez paintings was a group of mythological scenes for the Alcazar palace. Royal portraits remained to be on top of Diego's priorities as far as painting is concerned. These portraits would include that of Philip IV of Spain. In 1658, he was made a Knight of Santiago, an honour Diego had always desired.

Velazquez paintings are considered to be works of one of the great masters of Western art. He is considered as a strong influence by artists of the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. French impressionist, Edouard Manet described Diego as the painter of painters.




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