Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (June 6, 1599 August 6, 1660) was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist.
Quick Facts
- Based in
- Madrid, Spain
- Country
- Spain
- Born
- –
- Type
- Individual
About Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (June 6, 1599 August 6, 1660) was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist.
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (June 6, 1599 August 6, 1660) was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist. In addition to numerous renditions of scenes of historical and cultural significance, he painted scores of portraits of the Spanish royal family, other notable European figures, and commoners, culminating in the production of his masterpiece Las Meninas (1656). From the first quarter of the nineteenth century, Velázquez's artwork was a model for the realist and impressionist painters, in particular Édouard Manet. Since that time, more modern artists, including Spain's Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, as well as the Anglo-Irish painter Francis Bacon, have paid tribute to Velázquez by recreating several of his most famous works.
Career Timeline
Art Fair Career Timeline
Related Artists
Discover more artists →Frequently Asked Questions
What medium does Diego Velázquez work in?
Diego Velázquez primarily works in Painting.
Where is Diego Velázquez based?
Diego Velázquez is based in Madrid, Spain.
When was Diego Velázquez born?
Diego Velázquez was born in 1599 and died in 1660.
What is Diego Velázquez's nationality?
Diego Velázquez is from Spain.







