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Birth
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June 6, 1599
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Death
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August 7, 1660
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Place of Birth
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Sevilla (Seville), Spain
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Principal Residence
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Madrid, Spain
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Known for
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Capturing, in his strikingly honest portraiture, the dignity of peasants as well as the humanity and flaws of Spain's royal family
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Portraying subjects in a naturalistic style, depicting the play of light on figures in a realistic yet loosely painted manner
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Milestones
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1611-1617 Apprenticed under Spanish mannerist painter Francisco Pacheco, who gave him a broad education in languages, philosophy, and literature
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1619? Executed Water Seller of Seville, an early masterpiece that displays a sophisticated understanding of the interplay of light and shadow on various materials, including cloth, clay and skin
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1623 Moved to Madrid, painted a portrait of King Philip IV, and was named official painter to the king and the only artist authorized to portray him
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1628-1629 Painted Bacchus, placing the mythical subject in a contemporary context
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1629-1631 Traveled to Italy and studied Renaissance and contemporary art, both of which influenced later works including Joseph and his Brothers (1630)
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1634 Painted Surrender of Breda, which contrasts with other military paintings of the time in the artists' decision to portray a solemn, dignified moment rather than the emotions of triumph or defeat
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1650 Traveled to Italy to acquire works of art for Philip IV; painted a portrait of Pope Innocent X
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1656 Painted Las meninas (The Maids of Honor), which is notable for its confident brushwork, complex lighting, and innovative composition
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Did You Know
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In his cleverly composed Las meninas, Velázquez is shown painting the king and queen of Spain while their daughter and her attendants look on; the perspective is that of the sitters, who can be seen reflected in a mirror at the back of the room.
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Analysis by X ray reveals that a 1626-1628 portrait of Philip was likely painted over a 1623 portrait that the king had grown to dislike.
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Velázquez became very close with the family of his mentor, Francisco Pacheco, and married his daughter, Juana, in 1618.
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Obsessed with the haunting intensity of Velázquez's portrait of Pope Innocent X, British painter Francis Bacon based his series of so-called Screaming Popes on the work.
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