A dwarf at the court of King Philip IV of Spain. Oil painting by M. Pineda Montón after Diego Velazquez de Silva.

  • Velázquez, Diego, 1599-1660.
Reference:
44553i
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About this work

Description

A dwarf dressed in black, wearing a black hat, seated and holding a large book, a mountain behind to the right. Usually identified as Don Diego de Acedo, "El Primo", following the arguments of P. de Madrazo in 1872. However, a version of a painting of a different dwarf by Velazquez was recorded in a 1677 inventory as a portrait of Don Diego de Acedo, "El Primo": this version was offered for sale at Christie's, New York, 25 January 2012, lot 41. If that identification is correct, the dwarf depicted in the present painting (and in the painting by Velasquez in the Prado from which it is copied) seems likely to be Don Sebastián de Morra, a dwarf, who entered the service of Prince Baltasar Carlos in 1643. For the arguments see Christie's, loc. cit.

Physical description

1 painting : oil on canvas ; canvas 106.5 x 82.5 cm

Lettering

M. Pineda

References note

Christie's, New York, Old master paintings, part 1, 25 January 2012, lot 41

Reference

Wellcome Collection 44553i

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