Spanish Baroque Painter
Velazquez, a precocious artistic genius, got his start painting tavern scenes in his native town of Seville. At the tender age of 24, Philip IV appointed Diego as court painter, a position he held for the rest of his life. He traveled throughout much of Europe, which allowed him to study the works of others and meet luminaries such as Rubens. He is best known for his portraits, which are infused with color and warmth, his use of chiaroscuro and for being referred to as "the painter's painter."
Important Works:
The Waterseller of Seville, ca. 1619-20
Pope Innocent X, 1650
Juan de Pareja, 1650
The Maids of Honor (Las Meninas), 1656
Birth: June 6, 1599, Seville, Spain
Death: August 6, 1660, Madrid, Spain
