About Diego Velázquez
Diego Velázquez was court painter to King Philip IV of Spain and is often called a painter's painter for his loose, confident brushwork and his truthful portraits.
Born in Seville in 1599, he moved to Madrid in 1623 and spent the rest of his career at court, painting the royal family, courtiers and the court's entertainers with the same honesty. He made two long trips to Italy, where he studied Titian and the ancient sculpture of Rome.
Las Meninas, at the Prado, is his most famous and most discussed picture; his portrait of his assistant Juan de Pareja, painted in Rome, is one of the treasures of the Met. The Prado holds the largest collection of his work, and later painters from Manet to Picasso studied it closely.
Where to see Diego Velázquez's famous paintings
| Painting | Date | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Juan de Pareja | 1650 | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
| Las Meninas | 1656 | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
How big are they?
The paintings drawn to scale next to a person 1.7 m tall.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous paintings by Diego Velázquez?
Juan de Pareja, Las Meninas.
Where can I see paintings by Diego Velázquez?
Juan de Pareja at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York; Las Meninas at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
When did Diego Velázquez live?
Diego Velázquez was born in 1599 and died in 1660.
Sources: Wikidata Q297. Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.