What you are looking at
The little Infanta Margarita Theresa stands in a large room of the Madrid palace, surrounded by her maids of honor (the meninas), a dwarf, a dog and courtiers. Velázquez himself stands at a huge canvas on the left, brush in hand, and a mirror at the back reflects King Philip IV and Queen Mariana.
Why it is famous
The painting turns the usual portrait inside out: who is being painted, and where are we standing? Artists and philosophers have argued about it for centuries, and Picasso painted 58 variations on it.
How big is Las Meninas?
Las Meninas measures 318 × 276 cm (125.2 × 108.7 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 21 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It hangs in the Prado's central Velázquez gallery. Stand where the king and queen would stand and see how the room opens up.
Museums move and lend paintings. Check the museum's website before you travel to see one work. See all famous paintings in Madrid.
More by Diego Velázquez
Also at the Museo del Prado
Frequently asked questions
Who painted Las Meninas?
Diego Velázquez painted Las Meninas in 1656.
Where is Las Meninas?
Las Meninas is in the Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain.
How big is Las Meninas?
318 × 276 cm (125.2 × 108.7 in). Its surface is about 21 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is Las Meninas made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: Wikidata Q208758; Wikipedia, "Las Meninas". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.