Velazquez

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Connoisseurs will welcome this handsome work, with 54 color illustrations, that presents a refreshing portrait of Diego Velazquez as an independent man who painted kings and cooks with equal visual integrity. The artist's technical mastery and innovation are paid tribute here by both the selection of paintings shown and Ferrari's commentary. The former director of the Velazquez Institute in Madrid weaves Spain's political history with Velazquez's career, tied as they were by the artist's position as portraitist to King Philip IV. A brief biographical analysis yields the conclusion that Velazquez revealed more of himself in his paintings than in his seemingly simple but enigmatic life. Ferrari's near poetic examination of the portraits of the royal family, of historical works like the well-known The Surrender of Breda (1634-35) and of the religious paintings unfolds the artist's career. Ferrari often quotes other scholars' and artists' impressions of Velazquez to add dimension to his own criticism, and his comprehensive perspective on the social, historical as well as artistic background of the time makes the study an excellent introduction to Velazquez's genius. (August)