Arcadópolis
Infanta Maria Theresa
Diego Velázquez, 1652–1653
What you see
Infanta Maria Theresa stands facing us, almost swallowed by an immense skirt that fills the lower half of the canvas. Her arms rest on the frame of the dress: one hand holds a large white handkerchief that falls to the side, the other a small dark object. She looks ahead gravely, her long hair loose and wavy.
Red stripes run diagonally across the silvery fabric, giving the dress a sense of movement. Behind her, dark reddish curtains close in the space. The brushwork is thick and quick, especially in the skirt. Seek out the large brooch at her chest, the chain across her bodice and the red ornament pinned at one side of her hair.
About Diego Velázquez
Diego Velázquez was born in Seville and was painter to King Philip IV in Madrid for almost forty years. He painted with loose brushstrokes that look like smudges up close and turn into lace, silk and living eyes from afar. Many painters, such as Goya and Picasso, considered him their great master.
More by Diego Velázquez
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