Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Pink Dress facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portrait of the Infanta Margaret Theresa |
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| Artist | Diego Velázquez or Juan Bautista del Mazo |
| Year | 1660 |
| Type | Baroque |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 212 cm × 147 cm (83 in × 58 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The painting Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Pink Dress shows Margaret Theresa of Spain. It was painted in 1660. The artist was Diego Velázquez, a famous Spanish painter. However, some experts now think his student, Juan Bautista del Mazo, might have painted all of it. This beautiful oil painting is now in the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain.
Many people thought this was Velázquez's last painting. They believed he painted the dress, and Mazo finished the head and curtains after Velázquez died. But newer studies suggest Mazo might have painted the whole picture. The Prado Museum now says Mazo is the artist.
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Who Was Infanta Margarita Teresa?
An "Infanta" is a Spanish princess. Margaret Theresa was a princess of Spain. She was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and Queen Mariana of Austria. Velázquez painted her many times. She also appears in his very famous painting, Las Meninas. Another portrait of her is Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress.
Why So Many Portraits?
Velázquez painted Princess Margaret Theresa often, especially in his later years. These paintings were important for political reasons. They were sent to the Austrian court. This was part of plans for her to marry someone from the Austrian royal family. Infanta Margarita Teresa in a Blue Dress is still in Vienna, Austria. Two other portraits of her, painted when she was one or two years old, are also there.
Discovering the Real Subject
For a long time, people thought this painting showed Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain. Maria Theresa was King Philip IV's daughter from his first marriage. She later married Louis XIV of France, the King of France. Even in an 1872 museum catalog, the painting was wrongly identified.
Correcting the Mistake
Later research helped experts figure out the truth. They found that the painting actually shows Margaret Theresa. She was the daughter from King Philip IV's second marriage.
Admiration for the Painting
Artists from the Impressionist movement and later art styles really loved this painting. They admired how Velázquez (or Mazo) used light brushstrokes. This made the painting look very bright and lively.
See also
In Spanish: La infanta doña Margarita de Austria (pintura) para niños
- List of works by Diego Velázquez
