Diego Marquez De Las Meninas

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“Las Meninas “is a 1656 painting by Diego Velazquez. It’s located in the Museo Del Prado in Madrid. Las Meninas, which translates to the Maid of Honor, is a portrait of Infant Margarita, the daughter of King Philip IV, and his second wife Mariana of Austria. The painting is made out of oil paint on canvas, the canvas was divided into a grid. The painting measures 10 ft. ¾ inches x 9 ft. ¾ inches. This painting is the masterpiece of Spanish painting, its controversial, talked about, analyzed and imitated painting in history. ‘Las Meninas’ was referred to as ‘La Familia’ in the Royal Court Inventories.

I like this painting because it’s very interesting looking. When you first take a glance at it; you think they staring at you, the viewer. As you keep observing the painting you realize they are look at the queen and king. Which, at first I thought it made me feel like I was the queen who everyone was staring at. In the fact there is a mirror in the back of Velazquez right side of the painting that is the reflection of the king and queen. In …show more content…

The use of light helps to highlight the different focal points on the picture as well as adding definition to the subjects. The points of the light illuminate the characters and establish an order in the composition. The light that illuminates the room from the right hand side of the painting focuses on the viewer’s look on the main group, and the open door at the back, with the person positioned against the light, is the vanishing point. Velazquez uses linear perspective, tone and overlapping shapes in order to create the feeling of depth in the painting. The mirror which reflects the monarchs is a key piece, it transforms the reader into an integral part of the painting and its composition. The king and queen been sketched with quick brushstrokes so that the reflection is the same that the viewer

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