2. Facts Born in Seville, Spain Educated by parents to fear God At 12, he served as painter Francisco Pacheco’s apprentice Married to Pacheco’s daughter in 1618, had two kids Moved to Madrid in 1622 Painted portraits for King Phillip IV and others in Madrid for 7 years In 1629, moved to Italy until 1631—Here, he learned much about painting Returned to Madrid, and painted many, many portraits of famous people
3. Diego Velázquez painted in the early-mid 1600’s. The 1600’s had many great changes which introduced the world to the possibilities of what lay ahead. The 17 th Century was the beginning of modern science and philosophy. During Velázquez’s time, the 30 years’ war occurred. This was certainly one of the most destructive wars in European history.
4. Baroque Era Artist Like the stage gestures of opera. Baroque poses depend on contraposto or “counterpoise” This made it appears like different characters and objects were facing different directions.
10. Cristo Crucificado was painted in 1632. This is Velázquez’s most important religious painting. Velázquez loved to paint nude scenes, especially frontal nude, so he saw this painting as a way to express Christ in the way he was best at painting. He painted this in Italy , when he was learning Baroque-era portraits from many older painters. It has mostly dark coloring, making Christ’s body contrast greatly with the background.
12. Portrait of Pope Innocent X was another one of Velázquez’s more famous and important portraits. This is considered by many art critics to be the finest portrait ever created. This painting has a deep red shade, which show the pope’s colors.
13. In 1660, Velázquez was given the opportunity to decorate the buildings for Louis XIV and Maria Theresa’s wedding. His gorgeous paintings attracted much attention from the French and Spanish mobility. Later that summer, Velázquez returned to Madrid, then got very sick. On August 6, 1660, he died. In the first quarter of the nineteenth century, Velázquez's artwork was a model for the realist and impressionist painters, especially Eduoard Manet. Since then, more modern artists, like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, as well as the painter Francis Bacon, have paid tribute to Velázquez by recreating several of his most famous works.
