The ‘Las Meninas’ and other works

September 23, 2021October 30, 2021 gursheenkaurdhillon 846 Views 0 Comments Art

Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez, born in Seville, Spain in 1599 to Juan Rodriguez de Silva and Jeronima Velazquez, is considered to be one of the greatest European painters to this day, an official court painter in the Spanish court of King Philip IV, Diego Velazquez is celebrated as one of the most notable painters during the Spanish Golden Age. A pioneer in naturalism during the Baroque period, he is most remembered for his lifelike portraits and depiction of scenes from everyday life. Diego Velazquez trained under the painter Francisco Pacheco and went on to marry his daughter Juana Pacheco, however, stylistically Velazquez seemed to have drawn inspiration from Caravaggio, an eminent Italian painter from the Baroque period.

Las Meninas ( The Ladies in Waiting )

Las Meninas ( The Ladies in waiting ) might as well be one of the most discussed paintings in the history of European paintings, completed in 1656, the painting found its home in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. Las Meninas explores the complexities of visual illusions and the fact that it remains open to various interpretations is what makes the painting so special. The painting almost represents a modern-day photograph and accommodates the viewer into the painting, creating a sense of oneness, as the viewer almost feels like a part of the painting while trying to analyze the painting. The painting is also representative of the painter ( Diego Velazquez in this case ) who is witness to the intimately humane moments shared amongst the subjects of his paintings. Las Meninas is an intimate and almost candid depiction of King Philip IV and his wife Maria Anna’s daughter Margaret Theresa who casually seems to be looking at her parents who are posing for a portrait painted by Diego Velazquez. The painting captures the moment as it seems to have occurred from the lens of the subjects of Velazquez’s paintings whose reflections are visible on a mirror placed behind the princess and her entourage, alternatively, it is also thought that the mirror reflects the painting being painted by Velazquez. However many claim that Diego Velazquez may as well be painting the very painting that a viewer, views today, owing to the size of his canvas, the painting is also representative of the proximity between the king and Diego Velazquez, who are essentially depicted together in one painting. The painting also depicts Margaret’s ladies in waiting, the queen’s chamberlain, two dwarves, a sleepy mastiff, and the princess’s chaperone with a bodyguard. While it seems to be easy to identify the individuals in the portrait, it is hard to identify the actual subject matter and the main plot of the painting. One may assume that Diego Velazquez might be painting the king and queen as the princess arrives with her entourage or that the king and queen arrive while the painter is painting the princess and her retinue, it is also a possibility that Diego Velazquez may have just been interrupted by the princess while painting, who is in turn taken aback by the sudden presence or appearance of her parents, these are but among the various interpretations that are contested today.

Vieja Friendo Huevos ( Old Woman Frying Eggs )

An Old Woman Cooking Eggs — Vieja Frendo Huevos

Completed in 1618, the Vieja Frendo Huevos by Diego Velazquez is a classic example of paintings under the bodegon genre, wherein paintings capture still life scenes usually in a kitchen, this painting is one of the earlier paintings of Diego and it is easy to notice the incorporation of realism early on from his works, in this painting, an old woman is cooking eggs and a young boy seems to have gotten wine and a melon while keeping his gaze away from the woman, the woman seems to have paused her work and is visibly staring elsewhere, both the boy and the woman seem to be preoccupied with their own activities and thoughts which is suggestive through their eyes and body language, the painter finely captures the textures of the various materials in the painting from metals to the delicate scarf of the old woman.

Almuerzo de Campesinos ( The Farmers Lunch )

Another one of Diego Velazquez’s earlier paintings, Almuerzo de Campesinos is yet another painting under the bodegon genre that candidly captures a still life conversation between a young and old farmer who seem to be having lunch while being served wine by a young woman, the painting beautifully captures minute details such as the expression of the girl who keenly concentrates on her action of pouring wine into the glass as the old man seems to carefully be listening to the young man who is clearly enthusiastic of his speech.