About this objectOil painting of Diego Velazquez (1599 - 1660).
This painting is after a self portrtait in the Museum of the Capitol, Rome.
In her book "How to Understand Painting" Margaret Thomas expresses her love and respect for the classical painters. She lists the three greatest ever paintings as "Surrender of Breda", by Velazquez, "Sistine Madonna", by Raphael and "Night Watch" by Rembrandt.
Of Velazquez she says: "Velasquez was one of the greatest masters of flesh painting who ever existed. If you look at a person standing before one of his pictures and compare the tones of Nature with those of painting, you will recognise his marvellous truth and fidelity to life. "
Velazquez travelled around Italy and captured real people, a practice Margaret Thomas followed in her travels.
