1652 · Museo del Prado, Madrid

Velázquez stayed in Rome in 1649-50. Philip IV wanted his favourite court painter, now enjoying such a triumph in Rome, to paint his second wife, Queen Mariana, and to give his advice on the renovation of the old royal palace in Madrid, the Alcázar. Consequently, he wished Velázquez to come back to court as soon as possible, but none the less the artist delayed his return for another whole year.Show more