Brief Biography-Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez, whose family hailed from Portugal, was born in Seville. His first instruction in art as a boy was with Francisco de Herrera, the Elder, for one year, followed by a five-year term under Francisco Pacheco. After his apprenticeship, he became Master Painter of Religious Images, a high honour. He married Pacheco’s daughter Juana in 1618.
When he visited Madrid, his work made such an impression on King Philip IV that he made him a painter of Bed-Chamber to the king. As a result, he gained an income of 20 ducats a month, a house, and an annual pension of 300 ducats, and received several other court appointments that absorbed his time, which may be why his output was relatively small.
A visit to Spain by Peter Paul Rubens took the two artists to El Escorial, where observing the art that hung there inspired him to go to Italy. He visited Venice in 1629 and went to Rome and Naples, studying the Italian masters. He returned to Madrid in 1631. In 1633, his daughter Francisca married his student Juan Bautista Martínez del Mazo.
In 1648, he was dispatched back to Italy by the king as Ambassador Extraordinary to Pope Innocent X to buy works and have casts made of Greek and Roman sculptures. He visited many cities and met José de Ribera in Naples. In Rome, his portrait of Pope Innocent X gained him Membership in the Academy of Saint Luke.
He returned to Madrid in 1651, and in 1652 the king made him Head Harbinger of his Imperial Palace. He was named Knight of the Order of Santiago in 1658. Two years later, he died of a fever in Madrid. Velázquez was principally a portraitist; however, he also painted religious and historical subjects when he found time outside the court to paint. Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez is arguably the supreme Spanish painter of all time.