Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez was one of the most important painters of the seventeenth century. Born in 1559 in Seville (Spain). He studied at the studio of his future father, Francisco Pacheco, who introduced him to the principles of naturalism tenebrist. From this period dates the series of still lifes, such as the Water Seller of Seville, where he demonstrates his remarkable ability to carry out textures and contrasts. In 1623 he arrived in Madrid. He painted a portrait of King Philip IV and the latter appointed him court painter. From that time lived in the palace and his career was brilliant. Addressed mythological, historical, popular scenes and portraits, highlighting the domain of color (Innocent X), freedom of the stroke (The Count-Duke of Olivares), the spatiality of his compositions (The Toilet of Venus and Meninas) and movement of the forms (The Spinners and Prince Baltasar Carlos on Horseback). He died in 1660.
Among the famous artists who lived in the same time as are the Spanish Velásquez Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, the Dutchman Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish and French Nicolas Poussin.