This book is the first to address the curatorial career of Diego Velázquez, painter to King Philip IV of Spain and chamberlain of his royal palace. It investigates the role that Velázquez played in overseeing the display of the Habsburg art collection, then the richest in the western world, and the role, in turn, that this practice played in his creative trajectory between his arrival at the Spanish court in 1623 and his death in 1660. This book thus recasts Velázquez’s career as an episode in the history of the curator.

"Explores the early works of seventeenth-century Spanish painter Diego Velâazquez. Focuses on works from 1617 to 1623, examining the painter's critical engagement with the artistic, religious, and social practices of his native Seville"--Provided by publisher.

"Published in conjunction with the exhibition El joven Velazquez: 'La educacion de la virgen' de Yale restaurada, organized by the mayor of the city of Seville and the Yale University Art Gallery."

Published in conjunction with an exhibition held at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Apr. 20-July 27, 2008 and at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Aug. 21-Nov. 9, 2008.

The interest generated by the conservation and rehanging of a Velazquez picture "Portrait of a Man", led the Metropolitan Museum to consider how it might hold an exhibition of Velaquez's oeuvre, to show how his work led to this particular picture being painted, and how it informed his future work.

For so many champions of art history, the ultimate sounding board was--and remains--Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez. First available as an XXL volume, this accessible edition presents his complete works in beautiful reproductions, including enlarged details and photography of recently restored paintings.