Arcadópolis
Prince Philip Prosper
Diego Velázquez, 1659
What you see
Prince Philip Prosper stands full-length in a dim room. One hand rests on the back of a low chair, the other hangs by his skirt. He gazes at us with large dark eyes. Heavy curtains surround him, and on the right sits a stool draped in velvet.
The white pinafore, almost silver, is the brightest thing in the picture, set against the deep reds and blacks around it. A red dress with braided trim shows underneath. Keep an eye out for the small objects dangling from his clothes, including two little bells, and the dog’s tiny head peeking over the chair.
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
The Arcadópolis Museum has 443 public-domain works in 40 rooms, free to explore in 3D in your browser.