Manet called him “the greatest painter of all.” His masterpiece Las Meninas — which depicts the artist himself at work producing royal portraiture while relegating the king and queen to a small mirror in the background — has captivated thinkers such as José Ortega y Gasset and Michel Foucault and inspired artists including Picasso, who created forty-four variations on the painting. From Monet and Renoir to Corot, Courbet, Degas, Dalí, and Francis Bacon, many of the major figures in art history paid tribute to Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599–1660), the painter who elevated painting into an intellectual pursuit and portrayed beggars and fools with the same care and dignity he gave to his royal patrons.

“The magnificent volume conveys an almost physical sense of the figures portrayed, the play of light and shadow across their skin, the sheen of silk garments, and the texture of precious embroidery. A visual feast that makes clear why Velázquez’s painting influenced generations of artists,” wrote NDR Kultur about this complete survey of the Spanish master’s work, originally published in XXL format.

This new edition in a smaller format retains all the features of the original release, including outstanding reproductions, enlarged details, new photography of recently restored paintings, and insightful commentary by art historian José López-Rey.

DETAILS • Author: Diego Velázquez • Publisher: Taschen • Format: Hardcover