“Las Meninas”  (1656) painting by Diego Velázquez

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“Las Meninas” is Spanish for “The Maids of Honor.” It is a 1656 painting by Diego Velázquez, the leading artist of the Spanish Golden Age, in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Las Meninas has long been recognised as one of the most important paintings in Western art history. The Baroque painter Luca Giordano said that it represents the “theology of painting.” That’s interesting! I describe it as the unfinished finished painting.

The painting shows a large room in the Madrid palace of King Philip 4th of Spain, and presents several figures, most identifiable from the Spanish court, captured, in a particular moment as if in a snapshot. The young Infanta Margarita is surrounded by her entourage of maids of honour, chaperone, bodyguard, two dwarves and a dog. Just behind them, Velázquez portrays himself working at a large canvas.

The artist in the painting is Velázquez, the same painter who did this. He expected the nannies to convince the child princess to pose for him together with her parents for a happy family portrait. The idea of intended unfinished painting can be seen in the image in the mirror. Awaiting for their child are King Philip 4th of Spain and Queen Doña Mariana, who had already done their part. They brought the dwarves and the dog to try to convince the infanta, but the princess didn’t feel like it. And the painting, as planned was never done.

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Notice how a simple child’s tantrum changed the course of things by not allowing the completion of the family picture. It allowed another picture to be painted, perhaps, in the eyes of art critics, a much better one. “Better” because it included the story behind the whole intended picture.

BY FATHER AMBROSIO NONATO LEGASPI

About the author: Father Ambrosio Nonato Legaspi, fondly called by his parishioners as “Father Nonnette,” is the parish priest of Christ the King in Filinvest 2, Quezon City, under the Diocese of Novaliches./ Manila Times / ON

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