The Maids of Honor
between 1656 and 1657
Step into the royal studio of 17th-century Spain, where artist Diego Velázquez has frozen a candid moment of court life. At the center sits the young Infanta Margaret Theresa, looking slightly bewildered as her maids fuss over her, while a large mastiff dog lounges peacefully in the foreground. But the real magic is on the left: Velázquez himself stands at his easel, brush in hand, staring directly at you. Is he painting the princess, the king and queen reflected in the back mirror, or are you the subject? This mind-bending masterpiece has puzzled art lovers for centuries with its playful take on perspective and reality.
- Technique
- Oil painting
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 318 cm × 276 cm
Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid
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