Portrait of Sebastián de Morra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Portrait of Sebastián de Morra
Sebastián de Morra sitting on the ground against a plain background gives the portrait a psychoanalysis of De Morra's resentment of his own nature.
Artist	Diego Velázquez
Year	c. 1644
Medium	Oil on canvas
Dimensions	106.5 cm × 81.5 cm (41.9 in × 32.1 in)
Location	Museo del Prado, Madrid

The Portrait of Sebastián de Morra is a famous painting by Diego Velázquez. It shows Sebastián de Morra, who was a court dwarf and jester for Philip IV of Spain. Velázquez painted it around 1644. Today, you can see this painting at the Prado museum in Madrid.

We don't know much about Sebastián de Morra's early life. King Philip IV brought him to Spain in 1643. Sebastián worked for the royal court for about three years. He died in 1649.

Before Velázquez, painters often showed dwarfs in a cold way. But Velázquez painted them with more warmth and realism. In this portrait, De Morra looks straight at you. He is still and makes no hand gestures. Some people think this shows how the court treated De Morra and other dwarfs. We recently learned that De Morra was also called "El Primo."

About the Painting's Subject

Who Was Don Sebastián de Morra?

King Philip IV got Sebastián de Morra in 1643. He received him from his younger brother, Cardinal Infante Fernando. Sebastián then worked for Prince Baltasar Carlos. His job was to make the prince laugh and keep him entertained.

After Prince Carlos died, De Morra continued to serve the court. He passed away in October 1649. This was after three years of service.

Scientists studied the canvas used for De Morra's portrait. They found it was from the same cloth as a portrait of King Philip IV. This means both paintings were likely made in Fraga, Spain.

Life of Court Dwarfs

In the past, kings often hired dwarfs as court jesters. They were sometimes called sabandijas, meaning 'little serpents'. This practice goes back to the medieval period.

Many court dwarfs were born with a physical difference. Sometimes, people were even made to be deformed on purpose. These dwarfs often became servants to the royal family. They were seen as entertainment.

Earlier painters often showed dwarfs without much care. They were sometimes seen as human pets. These paintings often looked stiff. They showed a lack of respect for the dwarfs. Dwarfs were often painted as property. Their masters would place a hand on their head to show ownership.

Dwarfs were often seen as only one step above animals. They were sometimes painted holding an animal. But dwarfs who could read or write were often spared from this.

Some art historians thought Velázquez's dwarf paintings were separate from his other works. However, others believe they were meant to be seen together. They might even have been displayed with works by artists like Peter Paul Rubens. Dwarfs were common subjects in art from the 15th to 18th centuries. Their popularity in art then declined.

About the Artist: Diego Velázquez

Velázquez's Work as a Court Painter

Diego Velázquez was born in 1599 in Seville, Spain. He started his painting career there. At age 24, he moved to Madrid. Velázquez's realistic style was new to Spain. It was part of the Caravaggio style popular in Europe.

In 1628, when he was 29, Velázquez became the court painter for King Philip IV. His main job was to paint for the royal family and the court. His first painting for King Philip IV was a portrait of the king. The Count-Duke of Olivares hired him for this.

A court painter's job was to show the royal family in a good way. King Philip was very impressed by Velázquez's painting. He hired Velázquez as his chamber's painter. Velázquez also had other important jobs in the palace.

Velázquez painted at least ten portraits of dwarfs. Many of these paintings are now shown at the Prado museum in Madrid.

See also

In Spanish: El bufón el Primo para niños

• List of works by Diego Velázquez