Portrait of Juan Martínez Montañés facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Juan Martínez Montañés |
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| Artist | Diego Velázquez |
| Year | c.1635 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 109 cm × 88 cm (43 in × 35 in) |
| Location | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
The Portrait of Juan Martínez Montañés is a famous painting by the Spanish artist Diego Velázquez. It shows a sculptor named Juan Martínez Montañés. Velázquez painted it around 1635, but it was never fully finished. Today, you can see this amazing artwork at the Prado museum in Madrid, Spain.
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The Story Behind the Painting
Some art experts once thought this painting showed Velázquez's brother-in-law, Alonso Cano. But most now agree it is indeed Juan Martínez Montañés. They believe this because the person in the painting looks like other known pictures of Montañés.
This means the portrait was likely painted when Montañés visited Madrid. He was in the city between June 1635 and January 1636. During this time, he probably met with Velázquez. The painting is about 109 centimeters tall and 88 centimeters wide.
Why Montañés Was in Madrid
Montañés came to Madrid for a very important job. He was asked to create a clay model of Philip IV of Spain, the king. This clay model was called a modello. It was a guide for another sculptor, Pietro Tacca. Tacca used it to make a large bronze statue of King Philip IV on horseback. This statue is now in the Plaza de Oriente in Madrid.
The painting shows Montañés working on this clay model of the king. You can see him shaping the clay with a stick. However, the painting is not finished. The clay bust of the king is only shown as an outline.
Showing Respect for Artists
In Velázquez's time, artists were often seen as skilled workers. But Velázquez wanted to show that sculptors were important. He painted Montañés in fancy black clothes. He also gave him a white collar and cuffs, like a nobleman. This helped to show the sculptor's high social standing.
Montañés, like Velázquez, lived and worked in Seville. But Montañés was much older. When Velázquez painted him, Velázquez was 36 years old. Montañés was 67. Velázquez knew Montañés well. Velázquez's own teacher and father-in-law, Francisco Pacheco, had painted many sculptures made by Montañés.
See Also
- List of works by Diego Velázquez
- In Spanish: Retrato de Juan Martínez Montañés para niños
