Among the portraits in Velazquez paintings were those of King Philip IV and other members of the royal family as well as of the court. There was also a portrait of the court fools, consisting of people with mental and physical weaknesses who were kept to amuse the king.
Most of the Velazquez paintings were unavailable to the public until the opening of the opening of Spain's national museum, the Prado, in 1819. From then on, his influence can be gleamed from the works of Manet, Picasso and Francis Bacon.
The early Velazquez paintings were made up of traditional religious themes favoured by his master, Francisco Pacheco, a local painter, with whom Diego spent a six year apprenticeship, starting at the age of 11. The naturalism of Italian painter, Caravaggio, also had an influence on him. Diego was born in Seville, Spain, in June 6, 1599.
The move to the royal court gave Diego access to a vast collection of works. He came in contact with important artists including Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish baroque master, who spent six months at the court in 1628. Among the notable Velazquez paintings of the period was The Triumph of Bacchus, portraying a group of revellers falling under the powerful spell of the Greek god of wine.
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.
On Diego's second trip to Italy from 1649 to 1651, he was given the opportunity to include the portrait of Pope Innocent X among the Velazquez paintings. The portrait is considered among the finest portraits ever to be rendered. Other paintings of the period was a portrait of Pope Innocent X's servant, Juan de Pareja, admired for its striking realism and the Venus Rokeby, the only surviving female nude painting by Velazquez.
Most of the Velazquez paintings were unavailable to the public until the opening of the opening of Spain's national museum, the Prado, in 1819. From then on, his influence can be gleamed from the works of Manet, Picasso and Francis Bacon.
The early Velazquez paintings were made up of traditional religious themes favoured by his master, Francisco Pacheco, a local painter, with whom Diego spent a six year apprenticeship, starting at the age of 11. The naturalism of Italian painter, Caravaggio, also had an influence on him. Diego was born in Seville, Spain, in June 6, 1599.
The move to the royal court gave Diego access to a vast collection of works. He came in contact with important artists including Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish baroque master, who spent six months at the court in 1628. Among the notable Velazquez paintings of the period was The Triumph of Bacchus, portraying a group of revellers falling under the powerful spell of the Greek god of wine.
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.
On Diego's second trip to Italy from 1649 to 1651, he was given the opportunity to include the portrait of Pope Innocent X among the Velazquez paintings. The portrait is considered among the finest portraits ever to be rendered. Other paintings of the period was a portrait of Pope Innocent X's servant, Juan de Pareja, admired for its striking realism and the Venus Rokeby, the only surviving female nude painting by Velazquez.
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