Velázquez at the Grand Palais in Paris

Born in Seville in 1599, Velázquez is one of the most important figures in the history of art, any style and any confused time.

Leader of the Spanish school, official painter of King Philip IV, when Spain dominated the world, art student at a timelessness that only can dispute his names Raphael, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Rembrandt.

Master in the art of the portrait, which he liberates and renews the genre, it does not excel least in the landscape, history painting or, in his youth, genre scenes and still life.

Although it is one of the most famous artists and admired then as now, no monographic exhibition in France never showed the genius of one Manet devoted "painter of painters".

The exhibition intends to present a comprehensive overview of the work of Diego Velázquez, from its beginnings in Seville until his final years and the influence that his art has on his contemporaries.

It also gives it their mission to bring the main questions and discoveries made in recent years, putting in some cases for the first time, the newly discovered works.

The first section is dedicated to evoke the artistic climate of Andalusia in the early seventeenth century, putting into perspective the early works by Velázquez.

Then it is time to address the naturalist and picaresque vein Velázquez painting scenes around his kitchen and tavern.

Turning point in his art as his career, the artist's first trip to Italy is illustrated by works that could have been executed in Rome or immediately upon his return.

These masterpieces of first maturity also offer the opportunity to address an aspect little explored in his work: the landscape.

Stimulated by the example of Rubens, Velázquez gives a freshness and freedom to the backgrounds of its outdoor portraits for various royal residences.

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ِAddress:

Grand Palais

National Galleries

Square Jean Perrin entry

Avenue du Général Eisenhower

75008 Paris