A Detailed Examination of Diego Velazquez's Las Meninas Masterpiece

This essay provides an analysis of Diego Velazquez's 'Las Meninas,' examining its composition, use of light and shadow, and the portrayal of illusion, reality, and art. The painting, created in 1656, is a complex portrait of Infanta Margarita, members of the court, and Velazquez himself. The essay delves into the painting's grid system, deep space, and the organization of figures to create an X shape, emphasizing Margarita as the focal point. It highlights the Baroque elements, including sensuous richness and grandeur, and discusses the framing of the figures. The essay concludes by noting the painting's somber palette, loose brushstrokes, and realism, emphasizing the complexity and visual effects that enhance its beauty.

Running head: LA MENINAS BY VELAZQUEZ
LA MENINAS BY VELAZQUEZ
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Diego Velazquez was a Spanish painter and is considered to be one of the most
notable painters of the Spanish Golden Age. His beautiful work and talent landed him to
become the court painter for the eminent King Philip IV. He is known for his style which was
different from others and also because of his mesmerizing portraits. This paper will reflect on
his masterpiece named Las Meninas.
This masterpiece by Velazquez is an oil painting and this paining was painted in the
year, 1656. This painting can currently be seen in Museo Nacionel del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
Image: Velazquez, 1656, Museo Nacionel del Prado
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/jul/26/velazquez-las-meninas-
everything-is-happening-extract-michael-jacobs#img-1
This painting is difficult to define because of the complexities that can be viewed in
the picture however, it can be seen that the painting is a portrait of a group of small girls one
of them who is Infanta Margarita and the members of the court and the ladies who are
waiting, the people in throne who are the kind and the queen of the country, Spain and
Velazquez as well. According to me, this painting is about illusion, reality and art. The

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painting is simple however attracts the viewers because of the portrayal of the royal family
and their staffs and also because of the innovative and extraordinary complexity of
composition.
The painting looks very simple at the first glance but when looked closely it shows
the composition of the painting is of great intricacy. According to me the painting has been
segregated into the grid system and the canvas of the painting has been divided into around
seven layers. I feel that the space in the painting is very deep and has been defined very
carefully. When looked closely, it can be seen that in the entire painting only the ceiling is
visible.
The painting is a multi-figure and has a large composition and the organisation of the
painting is excellent which can be seen from the essence of the painting. The painting has
many diagonal and curved lines. I feel that he had arranged and ordered the figures to be in
the foreground in order to create an X shape where he is kept his focus on Margarita and thus
has kept her in the middle which shows that she is focal point of the painting.
I feel that he has used dark and light masterfully. With both light as well as shadow
Velazquez has created beautifully double arcs which centralize Margarita. The other one can
be seen above where Velazquez is standing, the next is where it is descending to Margarita
and then rises to the Nieto which can be seen in the background and the other one which is
below is designed by the arcs of light in the forefront.
The painting is of Baroque period and can be easily understood from the elements in
the painting. The painting portrays sensuous richness and grandeur which is considered to be
one of the classic elements of Baroque art. This makes the simple paintings attractive and
soothing to the eyes.

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I feel that this picture is all about the frames and also the framing of them. The figures
here are framed by the room in which all the figures are situated on the other hand the literal
frames can be seen to be existed in the form of a canvas which is one the left and the other
frame can be seen on the wall behind and then also in the mirror framing the king and the
queen.
The picture is beautiful and is stylish because of the somber palette, the loose,
unrestrained and free brushstrokes and the realism which can be seen in the painting which
looks like a photo. This simple painting is beautiful and is not simple as it seems as it has a
lot of complex elements which enhance the painting and the visual effects.
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