The Lady with a Fan
c. 1640
Velázquez captures a mysterious Spanish lady draped in a traditional black mantilla, her dark eyes locking onto the viewer with an almost modern intensity. She holds a fan in one gloved hand and a rosary in the other, blending secular fashion with religious devotion—a common tension in 17th-century Spain. The loose, confident brushstrokes on her white gloves and the delicate blue ribbon at her waist show the master painter at the height of his powers, creating a portrait that feels incredibly alive despite its age.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Wallace Collection, London
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