{"product_id":"9783836532105","title":"Velazquez","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eMaster of illusion: Velázquez, virtuoso of the Spanish Golden Age\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCourt painter to King Philip IV of Spain, \u003cb\u003eDiego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez\u003c\/b\u003e (June 1599–August 6, 1660) is not only a leading light of the Spanish Golden Age, but \u003cb\u003eamong the most celebrated masters in all Western art history\u003c\/b\u003e. Monet and Renoir, Corot and Courbet, Degas and Dalí all hailed his influence. Picasso was so inspired by his masterpiece \u003ci\u003eLas Meninas\u003c\/i\u003e that he painted 44 variations of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVelázquez’s importance is found particularly in his naturalist approach, in contrast to the more ubiquitous idealized manner of his age. Early works included numerous “bodegones”, genre scenes of everyday life in early 17th century Spain, in which warm, rich tones and textures set off the most ordinary of subjects and humble of faces, such as \u003ci\u003eOld Woman Frying Eggs\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLater, his portraiture for the Royal Court brought the same naturalism to the highest echelons of society, marking \u003cb\u003ea profound shift in the depiction of royalty with softer, more relaxed poses that offered his subjects a human warmth and character\u003c\/b\u003e as much as a sense of grandeur. Velázquez’s most famous work, \u003ci\u003e \u003cb\u003eLas Meninas\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e , was also painted in the royal court, but in its enigmatic composition raises many \u003cb\u003ebroader questions about reality and illusion and the relationship between the painter, painting, and viewer\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis fresh TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 edition introduces Velázquez through key works from throughout his career. From humble genre scenes to the royal portraits, the exquisite \u003ci\u003eRockeby Venus\u003c\/i\u003e nude, and the ever-mysterioius \u003ci\u003eLas Meninas\u003c\/i\u003e , we explore his exceptional attention to composition, masterful handling of tone, and his remarkable influence as, in Manet’s words, “ \u003cb\u003ethe greatest painter of all\u003c\/b\u003e.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eAbout the series:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003eEach book in TASCHEN’s Basic Art series features:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e a detailed chronological summary of the life and oeuvre of the artist, covering his or her cultural and historical importance \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e a concise biography \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e approximately 100 illustrations with explanatory captions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Taschen America, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47052525535472,"sku":"9783836532105","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9783836532105_p0.jpg?v=1769887956","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9783836532105","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}