Monday Morning Museum: Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez

Self-Portrait, circa 1640 by Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez

Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez - Wednesday 6 June 1599 Seville, Spain to Monday 6 August 1660 Madrid, Spain

Spanish Baroque Era Painter

Portrait of a Man, circa 1630-1635

“This is an informal portrait rather than a highly finished work, with the head brought to a higher degree of finish than the torso and pale gray background. Was it conceived as an independent portrait, or was it, rather, painted as a study with a view to including the sitter in the "Surrender of Breda", which contains many portraits? Can the identification of the figure as Velázquez be dismissed out of hand, since in the "Surrender of Breda" he appears as an observer rather than a direct participant in the action and looks out at the viewer in the way often associated with the insertion of a self-portrait? In the absence of documents, the matter remains highly speculative. There is, moreover, the question of his resemblance (or non-resemblance) to bona fide portraits of Velázquez and the fact that in the "Surrender of Breda" he is attired like other members of the Spanish contingent. Under these circumstances, the MMA has retained the title "Portrait of a Man".” – Metropolitan Museum of Art

Last Monday’s Artist – Mark Rothko
Next Monday’s Artist – Ogata Korin

“Monday Morning Museum” logo created by Adrean Darce Brent