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Diego Velazquez

Diego Velazquez was born and baptized on June 6, 1599 in Seville, Spain. Seville was the most populous city of Spain, and also a very wealthy part of Spain as well. It was the center of cultural activity and was known as “the New Rome.” (Art Book: Velazquez, 1999) His father was Joao Rodriguez Silva from Portuguese origin, and his mother was Jeronima Velazquez from Spain. (Academic American Encyclopedia, Vol. 19, 1886) Diego took the last name from his mother instead of from his father, which was very common then where they were from. He was the oldest of seven brothers. His family moved to Seville from the Portuguese town of Oporto about a decade before Diego was born. (Art Book: Velazquez, 1999)

During his lifetime, Velazquez had two main mentors. The first was Francisco Herrera the Elder. He was described as “a strict man without character.” (Velazquez, 1989) He was...

Posted by: Kelly G Hess

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