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Diego was the first child of João Rodrigues da Silva and Jerónima Velázquez.
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Velázquez set up his own studio for the first time after completing his apprenticeship with Francisco Pacheco.
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Velázquez married Juana Pacheco who was the son of his teacher and they had two kids together.
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This painting is called Christ in the house of Martha and Mary and it is unique for its use of perspective. In the foreground, we see a portrait of everyday life; while in the background, we see a more ornate, religious image. Velázquez used this style of using two images very often in his work.
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The Surrender of Breda, also known as The Lances, is Velázquez’s only surviving work with a historical subject matter. The painting was a royal commission, and it shows Spanish general Ambrogio Spinola’s victory over the Dutch town of Breda in 1625.
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Velázquez created this portrait as a warm-up of his skills before his portrait of the Pope. It captures in great detail Pareja's countenance and his somewhat worn and patched clothing with an economic use of brushwork.
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Velázquez made a trip to Italy from 1649 to 1651. During this time, he was given the opportunity to paint Pope Innocent X, producing a work that is considered among the finest portraits ever rendered. This is when he received most credit and influenced other painters.
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Las meninas is Velázquez’s most famous painting. It depicts the infant Margarita, daughter of King Philip IV, surrounded by her maids of honor. Velázquez incorporates a self-portrait into the piece; he can be seen at his canvas in the left-corner of the painting. In this way, Las meninas represents a more intimate moment in the life of the Spanish royal family because the paintintg incorporates Diego showing his artistic process.
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Diego died in Madrid, Spain after he was stricken with fever.
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Velázquez is remembered as one of the great masters of Western art. Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali are among the artists who considered him a strong influence, while French Impressionist Édouard Manet described him as "the painter of painters."
