Hip Young Things

Diego Rodriquez de Silva y Velazquez was a great Spanish painter from the early to mid 17th century. He was born in June, 1599 in Seville. He is greatly known for his portraits of Spanish Royalty and other notable Europeans. He also painted numerous works focusing on significant historical and cultural events and circumstances. He was an individually oriented Baroque painter who would become a model for later realist and impressionist artists. Many of the best Madrid restaurants have paintings decorating their walls, and one may encounter a Velazquez print while they enjoy their dinner.

Velazquez was born in June 1599 in Seville, Spain. He demonstrated artistic talent at a young age and began to study under Francisco de Herrera . Herrera was an innovative painter who discarded the Italian Influence on Spanish painting. It was probably from Herrera that Velazquez learned his use of brushes with long bristles. When he was 12 Velazquez went to apprentice under the artist Francisco Pacheco, who was working and teaching in Seville. He worked with Pacheco for five years, studying the trends of literary and artistic circles and developing his own technical skills.

In 1622 Velazquez went to Madrid. He arrived with letters of introduction to Don Juan de Fonseca who was the chaplain to the king Phillip IV . It was by request of Pacheco that Velazquez painted the portrait of the famous poet Luis de Gongora y Argote. Later that year, in December, the king’s favorite court painter died. Velazquez was conveyed to the court and offered 50 ducats to apply toward his expenses. At this point Fonseca lodged the young painter at his own house and sat for a portrait. This was presented to the king, who in turn commissioned a portrait of himself. The king was extremely pleased with the work and paid for Velazquez to move himself and his family to Madrid. Velazquez lived there for the rest of his life, and the king announced that no other painter would paint him.

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