Equestrian Portrait of Margarita of Austria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Equestrian Portrait of Margarita of Austria |
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| Spanish: La reina Margarita de Austria a caballo | |
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| Artist | Diego Velázquez |
| Year | 1634 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 297 cm × 212 cm (117 in × 83 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
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The Equestrian Portrait of Margarita of Austria is a famous painting from 1634. It shows Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain riding a horse. The artwork was created by the well-known Spanish artist Diego Velázquez. This painting was first displayed at the Hall of Realms in the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid. Today, you can find it at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
How the Painting Was Made
Velázquez was asked to paint five special horse-riding portraits of the royal family. These included King Philip III, his wife Queen Margaret of Austria, King Philip IV, his wife Queen Elizabeth of France, and their son Prince Baltazar Carlos.
The portrait of Prince Baltazar Carlos was smaller than the others. This was because it was meant to hang over a door. This way, people would look up at it from below.
Velázquez often worked with helpers in his art studio, called a workshop. This painting of Queen Margaret shows some work done by his workshop. Velázquez himself added finishing touches to the painting. He carefully redid parts of the horse's harness, which was very detailed at first.
He also repainted the queen's head, making it look very smooth. However, some parts, like the horse's mane and background landscape, were painted over. This means they are hidden under the final layers of paint. These hidden parts might also be Velázquez's own work.
What the Painting Shows
In the painting, Queen Margaret is wearing a fancy dress. She has two special pieces of jewelry that belonged to the Austrian royal family. One is a famous pearl called "La Peregrina". The other is a square-shaped diamond known as "El Estanque".
The horse in the painting is walking in a special way, called a 'passage' gait. It is facing towards the left side of the painting. This is done on purpose to match the portrait of Queen Margaret's husband. In his painting, the horse is facing to the right.
See Also
- List of works by Diego Velázquez
- In Spanish: La reina Margarita de Austria a caballo para niños
