Sunday, October 16, 2011

Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez

Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez is one of the most important paintings in western art history and has become a much discussed work with no true conclusions ever having being drawn. This article looks into the career of artist Diego Velazquez as well as the legacy of the classic Las Meninas oil painting which is now on permanent display at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, the Spanish capital which itself has an impressive history within art.

The painting features a great number of different people who are each captured in extraordinarily high detail, allowed by the fact that the artist used such a huge canvas which measures more than 3 metres by 2 metres. Much of the controversy which still surrounds this painting concerns the people within the painting, and many are still unsure as to who exactly they are. One thing for certain is that the artist is one of them, stood in the corner looking in. The others however may be notable people of the time, or simply inventions from the creative mind of this artistic genius whose contributions to the Baroque movement and adding new ideas to it was huge. Besides Las Meninas, Diego Velazquez also produced much loved Baroque paintings such as Old Woman Frying Eggs, Crucifixion, Forge of Vulcan, Infante Balthasar Carlos in Hunting Dress and Venus and Cupid amongst many others dating back all way to the start of a truly extensive career.

Beyond the career of Velazquez, other notable Spanish artists have included the likes of Salvador Dali who himself re-produced original Velazquez paintings in his own style, which was a huge complement to a painter who had inspired him so much.

We can conclude that Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez is a critical painting for any budding art historian because of the importance of it in the development of Baroque art which itself followed on closely after the periods of the Renaissance which started in Italy before moving on to the rest of Europe. Velazquez demonstrated exceptionally creative ideas which were to inspire many future Spanish painters but there was also great controversy about this particular work which makes it stand out from the rest of his prestigious and productive career, even in including a small portrait of the artist himself within the art work. Those fortunate enough to get to visit the Museo del Prado in Madrid should certainly take the time to check out this wonderful piece of art.

You can buy Las Meninas Velazquez paintings from Lasmeninasvelazquez.com.


http://EzineArticles.com/6512046

No comments:

Post a Comment