Velázquez re-examined: theory, history, poetry, and theatre

Abstract

Velázquez Re-examined offers fresh insight into one of the major figures in Western art. By bringing together the work of seven prominent scholars working across the disciplines, this collection will analyze the paintings of Diego Velázquez (1599-1660) within the cultural, religious, and intellectual frameworks of seventeenth-century Spain. Art historians such as Fernando Marías, and Javier Portús explore the origins of Velázquez's pivotal place in the history of Spanish art. At the same time, literary historian Laura Bass examines the central role played by Velázquez's academic formation in the imagery and style of his paintings. The approaches highlighted in this book represent a departure from recent studies of Velázquez's career as a courtier, and they instead focus on interpreting the unexplored issues raised by his paintings themselves.