Portrait of Juan de Pareja

History portrait of the servant of Velazquez Juan de Perechi example XVII century the most successful PR campaign for promotion of the artist on the international scene.

50 years of Diego Velasquez for the second time in my life was in Rome. All of his foreign travel was limited to the two not particularly long visits to Italy. Spanish king Philip IV (1, 2, 3) stubbornly refused to let go of your favorite artist performing concurrently the duties of intendant of the Royal Palace. We don't know until the end of the explanation of Philip IV, but the fact that Velasquez, the first artist in the homeland, abroad remained virtually unknown. First trip to Italy, to which the young velázquez persuaded to come to Spain on a diplomatic mission Rubensdid not bring the Spaniard special glory. Or rather, I did, but not the one on which he could count. Then 30-year-old Velasquez came to Italy as a Royal Chamberlain, he was accompanied by General Ambrosio Spinola (we can see the famous historical painting by Velazquez "The Surrender Of Breda"), and the Italians almost took velázquez for the Spanish spy. In any case, he was perceived not as an artist but as a functionary of the Spanish court, and the attitude was wary.

Between the first and second visits velázquez in Italy ", much water has flowed". Spanish art was experiencing its "Golden age" and velázquez was his "frontman", he is the Central figure. That's just the Italians, proclaiming his land, abode of gods and the cradle of art, is not very interested in strangers. They flattered, what kind of art experiences the whole world gathers to him in Venice and Florence, in Siena and Padua, Verona and Rome, and what can you offer to the world of foreign "barbarians"?

According to legend, the pride of Velazquez was deeply hurt. Within a few days he did a wonderful portrait of the servant – the moor, who accompanied him in Italy, named Juan de Pareja. Once dried out the paint, Pareja was sent to wander in the noble residences of the Romans in and around the capital with his portrait. In Spain, velázquez was named "artist of truth". He never embellish the reality (often sinned Italians), but in people of low rank – servants, court jesters and dwarfs (1, 2, 3, 4) – could see high human dignity. Portrait Parigi had such a striking resemblance to the original and yet showed it in this flattering true! light that "Roman fortress" has fallen. The Italians recognized the great skill of Velazquez, he attracted customers, and the main proof of its success was the invitation to write the most influential person in Italy (and possibly Europe) – Pope Innocent X.

And what about the hero of Velasquez? What happened to Juan de Parejas? This story is no less amazing! Upon returning to Spain the master gave him his freedom, and the moor, a lot of time conducting in the Studio of Velazquez, watching him work,also became a serious artist. He is known as one of the virtuoso of the copyists of the works of Velasquez, and his own paintings are exhibited in the Prado ("The calling of St. Matthew") and the Hermitage ("Portrait of a monk").

Recently, on behalf of the hero of the Velasquez ' portrait of the writer Elizabeth Borton de Trevino wrote the novel "I, Juan de Pareja".

Author: Anna Yesterday