Luis de Góngora y Argote
Velázquez painted this striking portrait of the famous Spanish poet Luis de Góngora around 1622, essentially using it as his 'calling card' to secure a position at the royal court in Madrid. You can really feel the poet's sharp, cynical personality in that intense stare and prominent forehead—in fact, his bitter literary rival Quevedo wrote nasty poems mocking his large nose and balding head! Velázquez masterfully contrasts the incredibly detailed, wrinkled face with the loose, dark brushstrokes of the heavy black cloak, capturing the psychological depth typical of the Baroque era.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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