Arcadópolis
Prince Balthasar Charles as a Hunter
Diego Velázquez, 1635–1636
What you see
Balthasar Charles stands full-length in open country, a gun resting upright on the ground. He looks straight ahead with a serious face. On the left, a large dog lies stretched out on the grass; on the right, beside a tree trunk, another dog barely enters the picture, cut off by the edge. Behind him opens a broad valley with mountains.
His hunting clothes are plain dark browns, set off by a white lace collar and pale gloves. The landscape is brushed in cool greys, blues and greens. Look for the gloved hand gripping a gun that seems long for his size, and the soft sheen of the dog’s coat.
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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