8 - Emily Lau - Diego Velazquez: Las Meninas

"Las Meninas" (1656) is one of the most recognizable pieces by Sapnish artist Diego Velazquez. Velazquez is considered to be one of the leading artists of the Spanish Golden Age. "Las Meninas," which is roughly translated into "The Maids of Honor," depicts a scene in the Madrid palace of King Philip IV of Spain. The figures in the painting are largely recognized from the Spanish court and this painting is considered to be a snapshot in time. The Infanta Margarita is at the center, surrounded by her maids of honor, chaperone, bodyguard, two dwarfs, and a dog. Most unique to this painting is that Velazquez himself is portrayed in the painting behind a large canvas. Lastly, in the mirror, you can see the image of the King and Queen themselves as if they are looking onto the scene just as we, the viewers, are doing - however, some scholars argue that the reflection is merely a reflection of a painting of the King and Queen, and not the reflection of the actual individuals. We know that the princess at the center of the painting is actually the King and Queen's sole suriving child at the time. She is later married to the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. "Las Meninas" is considered one of the most important pieces of work in Western art and has recently been described as "Velazquez's supreme achievement."