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A Review of the Life and Works of Spain’s Master Painter Diego Velasquez
By CruiseDirector | November 7, 2009
One way of expression is painting; it has a number of techniques and styles, abstract painting and other compositions may show the delicate emotion and intention of the painter. Surrealistic, realistic, abstract and other kinds of movements have already come and gone; paintings have also served various number of reason throughout history; from personal to political.
Much of Spain’s culture can be seen echoed in the pieces of art done by Spanish artist. A deeper appreciation of Spain’s art can be gained through some knowledge about their culture and their language; after all, much of Spain’s culture is embedded and reflected in its language. If you prefer to learn online, there are so many free resources that you can enjoy on the internet; for example, Rocket Spanish offers their basic cultural and language lessons free of charge to anybody who has internet service and who longs to take advantage of their learning materials. Rocket Spanish lessons can help you learn the Spanish language as it employs various study methods for a very effective learning experience.
A number of Spanish painters have been popular throughout its generation, especially during the time of El Siglo de Oro or Spain’s Golden Age; most of its brilliant painters emerged during that time. It is also during that time when one painter named Diego Velasquez became most famous and considered as the most sought after and highly respected master. King Philip IV and his chief minister are only a few of the powerful friends Velasquez has; he made pieces for the royal family and to people with position and high nobility, showcasing his style and skills in all his paintings.
In June 5, 1599 from a family of average class in the town of Seville, Diego Velasquez was born and is the first child of six children. As early as eleven years old he began to learn painting and became an apprentice of master painter Francisco Pacheco, and when he reached the age of eighteen he was certified by the painters’ guild to be a exceptional artist which allowed him to paint as a professional. He married Pacheco’s daughter and continued his paintings that have been his primary living; his themes are mostly religious and still life paintings of tavern pieces and he was able to sell his paintings and gained a lot of money which he used to buy a comfortable house for them and another house to be rented out.
He became one of the Spain’s highly acclaimed artist as his pieces continued to impress a lot of people; the commoners as well as the Royal Family and people belonging to the upper class society. The Marques de Spinola himself was amazed at the beauty of realism presented in the painting The Surrender of Breda; the amount of details that went into painting the expression on every face, the threads of the fabrics, the tint on the skin, and everything about the painting was just magnificent. Another masterpiece that Velasquez created was the Las Meninas or The Maids in Honour; it is known to be a great masterpiece of all time and considered as most visited painting around the world.
Diego Velasquez is truly a national treasure, and it is without a doubt that his style had influenced the way painters of the next generations will see the art of painting.
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