Diego Velazquez Biography
Diego Velázquez was probably Spain’s greatest baroque artist. He was born in
Seville, in 1599. Between the ages of 11 and 16 he worked as an apprentice to
the Mannerist painter, Francisco Pacheco. This was where he also gained the
influences of Flemish and Italian realism.
For the first few years after he had
served his apprenticeship, Velázquez's works fell into three categories. These
were the bodegón, which comprised everyday subjects combined with still life,
portraits, and religious scenes. He also showed a strong bias towards
naturalism. One of his earliest bodegones was The Meal, which is now on display
in the Hermitage in St Petersburg. This may have been his first work as an
independent master.
Another of the early bodegones that he produced, the Water Seller of Seville, is
on display at Apsley House in London. This is often compared with the work of
Caravaggio because it has a very clever use of light and shadow, and is a
realistic portrayal of nature. Velázquez used the people of Seville as models
for his religious paintings and his Adoration of the Magi, now on display in the
Prado in Madrid, actually includes portraits of his own family and a
self-portrait for the biblical figures. Velázquez moved in the intellectual
circles of Seville, and was introduced to many of the poets and writers of the
time. This was to influence him later in his life when his work adopted more
Classical themes. In 1622, he painted a portrait of the great poet Luis de
Góngora y Argote, which now hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Velázquez travelled to Madrid in 1623, and painted a portrait of King Philip IV,
which is now on display in the Prado in Madrid. After this he was appointed the
King’s official painter. He spent the majority of the next 6 years painting
portraits of the Royal Family. He also painted some mythological pictures, The
Drinkers, which is also on display in the Prado. His depiction of the people
drinking with the God of wine is a good example of how interested Velázquez was
in realism, but still maintains his mythological theme. In 1629, Velázquez left
for Italy, and spent the next two years travelling around the country. During
his time there he studied Italian art and current trends. One of the works that
he produced on his travels, Joseph and His Brothers, is on display in El
Escorial, near Madrid. This combines the sculptural style of Michelangelo with
the light and shadow techniques of many of the Italian masters.
When Velázquez returned to Madrid he continued as the court painter. He produced
many notable works, including Prince Baltasar Carlos with a Dwarf, which is on
display in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He also contributed to the
decoration of the throne room in the new royal palace of Buen Retiro, alongside
some of the most famous painters of the day. His most famous piece is the battle
picture the Surrender of Breda. This is now on display in the Prado, and is the
most celebrated historical composition of Spanish Baroque art. Velázquez
continued as court painter and architect until his death in 1660. |
