Diego Velázquez
The Water Seller of Seville Diego Velázquez 1623 oil on canvas As a formal style, Baroque is characterized by open compositions in which elements are placed or seem to move diagonally in space visual verisimilitude; naturalism; a desire for realism What do you see?
detail: The Water Seller of Seville Diego Velázquez 1623 oil on canvas Velázquez is demonstrating his virtuosity. How? Hint: How many different textures can you identify?
The Water Seller of Seville Diego Velázquez 1623 Boy Bitten by a Lizard Caravaggio 1594
Las Meninas or The Family of Philip IV Diego Velázquez oil on canvas How does Velázquez engage the viewer? Where is the artist? What is the artist doing? How big is this work? Who is the subject of this work? Who is in the mirror? Who is Velázquez’s patron? King Philip IV of Spain
Las Meninas or The Family of Philip IV Diego Velázquez oil on canvas How does the gaze govern the composition of this work? Where is the viewer situated? Who is the subject of this work? How can the viewer tell?
Las Meninas or The Family of Philip IV Diego Velázquez oil on canvas How does this work exemplify the naturalism that is a characteristic of Baroque art?
Las Meninas or The Family of Philip IV Diego Velázquez oil on canvas As a formal style, Baroque is characterized by open compositions in which elements are placed or seem to move diagonally in space. What do you see?
detail: Las Meninas Diego Velázquez As a formal style, Baroque is characterized by a loose, free technique in which the artist uses rich colors and dramatic contrasts of light and dark. What do you see?
detail: Las Meninas Diego Velázquez
…a self-portrait of the artist Why is the hand blurry? What does this intentional decision signify? What does the artist’s palette signify?
detail: Las Meninas Diego Velázquez
Las Meninas or The Family of Philip IV Diego Velázquez oil on canvas
Las Meninas Pablo Picasso 1957
The Surrender at Breda (The Lances) Diego Velázquez oil on canvas The most important fortress in the southern Netherlands was Breda in Brabant. Velázquez represents Spinola (Philip IV’s Spanish commander) as having dismounted from his horse to meet the Dutch commander, Justinus of Nassau, on equal footing. Instead of accepting the token of surrender, he places a hand on the Dutchman's shoulder, offering a consolation of one soldier to another.
detail: The Surrender at Breda (The Lances) Diego Velázquez oil on canvas
…a self-portrait of the artist
detail: The Surrender at Breda (The Lances) Diego Velázquez oil on canvas …this soldier is on the losing side
The Rokeby Venus or The Toliet of Venus ca. 1650
Francois Boucher The Toilet of Venus 1751
The Rokeby Venus or The Toliet of Venus ca. 1650
Sleeping Venus Giorgione c. 1510
The Venus of Urbino Titian before 1538
The Grand Odalisque Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres 1814
Olympia Manet 1863
The Clothed Maja Francisco Goya
The Nude Maja Francisco Goya