Diego Velázquez, biography of the painting genius

The history of art is an enormous mural in which some painters have left a classic mark, unmoved by the erosion of time. Some stand out for their skill, others for their ability to go outside the box.

In this context, We want to address the figure of one of the masters of the Spanish Baroque, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, popularly known as Diego Velázquez. So, let’s go with the biography of the painting genius.

The first stage in Seville

Born in Seville, during the last year of the 16th century, within a wealthy family of Seville nobility. He had 7 other siblings, a common number for the time. He will not take long to enter the world of art, showing interest and concern to expand his knowledge of it.

He began his artistic career in Seville, specifically in the workshop of Francisco Herrera “the old man”. However, his most fruitful training was received in the workshop of Francisco Pacheco, who would later become his father-in-law. It is here where he will meet other painters and the different techniques so that, little by little, he will begin to make his first important works.

Start painting everyday and simple scenes, using and training in the technique of tenebrism under the influence of Caravaggio and the spatial conception similar to Flemish painting. Some of the most representative titles are Old woman frying eggs, Christ in the house of Martha and Mary either The water bearer of Seville.

The path to success as a court painter

Diego Velázquez was going to be called to court in 1622, the year he settled in Madrid. and begins to respond to the expectations it had generated in the capital. The Count, Duke of Olivares and Philip IV himself recognized the painter’s skill. Furthermore, during his stay in the capital he would make several trips to Italy, with the intention of continuing to drink in the art of the transalpine country.

In 1627, he was appointed chamber usher. The appointment is the consequence of the success achieved in a competition in which he competed against other court painters. In this way, he will strengthen his support and even see how the endorsement by the king himselfof whom he began to make his first portraits. In 1629 he traveled to Italy, where You will be able to see works by the greatest masters: Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, etc., as well as establishing contact with other painters such as José de Ribera. It is in this period when he makes works such as “The forge of Vulcano”. In 1631, he returns to Madrid, where he will continue his work as the king’s painter, to return to Italy in 1649. He does so due to the royal requirement to buy some works. In turn, it was on this second trip that he painted the famous portrait of Innocent X. In 1651 he returned to Madrid and a year later He is appointed Senior Custodian.

The culmination of his career

After several decades in which he developed all his talent as an artist, Diego Velázquez achieves great recognition from the entire court and by other painters of the time, as emphasized by painting specialist Wendy Beckett. In this way, he will carry out his great masterpiece in 1656, Las Meninaswhere he represents himself, proud of his position and the Cross of Santiago that he wears on his chest.

Las Meninas

At the same time, he will work on other works that have been authentic milestones in the history of painting. A particular case is Spinnerswhere the fable of Arachne is told, demonstrating great mastery of technique, a product of her talent, but also of her great experience.

Finally, he died in 1660 in Madrid. His funeral is quite an event and he is buried with honors, as a knight of the Order of Santiago. His work, on the other hand, would remain for eternity, being proof of a creative visualization that would allow him go down in posterity as one of the geniuses of painting and that, without a doubt, will continue to be an icon in the history of art.

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