Don Juan Mateos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Don Juan Mateos |
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| Artist | Diego Velázquez |
| Year | circa 1632–3 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 109 cm × 90.5 cm (43 in × 35.6 in) |
| Location | Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden |
Don Juan Mateos is a famous painting made with oil paints on a canvas. Many art experts believe it was painted by the well-known Spanish artist Diego Velázquez around the years 1632 or 1633.
Contents
About the Painting
This painting is thought to be a portrait of a man named Juan Mateos. It was likely painted by Diego Velázquez between 1632 and 1633.
The Painting's Journey
The painting has a long history. In 1685, it was mentioned in the belongings of Cesare Ignazio d'Este. It was described as a "portrait by Signor Velasco," noting that the hands were only roughly sketched.
Later, in 1746, the painting was sold to Augustus III of Poland. At that time, people thought it was painted by Peter Paul Rubens. From his collection, it moved to the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, Germany. For a while, some even believed it was a work by Titian, another famous painter.
What the Painting Shows
The portrait shows a man from his waist up. He is wearing black clothes with shiny gold details. He also has a white collar.
His hands are only sketched, not fully detailed. His right hand rests on the handle of a pistol, and his left hand is on a sword. The man stands against a reddish-gray background. The background is brighter right behind him.
The man's head is brightly lit and turned slightly. He looks directly at you with a strong, focused gaze. You can see signs of age, like wrinkles on his nose and neck.
Who Was Don Juan Mateos?
Experts believe the person in the painting is Juan Mateos. He was an important person in the court of Philip IV of Spain. He served as the king's horseman and main crossbowman.
Art historian Carl Justi compared this portrait to a smaller picture of Mateos. That smaller picture was engraved by Pedro Perete and appeared in Mateos's book about hunting.
Another art historian, Jonathan Brown, thinks the Duke of Modena might have bought the portrait after Mateos died. The Duke's ambassador in Madrid might have bought it to add to the Duke's art collection.
Mateos's own records listed two portraits after his death. One was of him and one of his wife. However, those were described as full-length portraits and were not valued highly. This suggests they might not have been the same painting.
See also
In Spanish: Don Juan Mateos (Velázquez) para niños
