Circle of Velazquez, 17th century

Circle of DIEGO DE VELÁZQUEZ (Seville, 1599 - Madrid, 1660), 17th century
‘Infanta Maria Teresa of Austria.
Oil on canvas.
Relined.
Frame from the 19th century, with faults.
It conserves remains of a label of the Junta Incautación.
Measurements: 152 x 105 cm; 183 x 135 x 8 cm (frame).

This oil painting from the Golden Age of Spanish art has been executed with an exquisite technique, which can be seen in the rendering of each of the qualities: The silk of the puffed sleeves, the brocades of the chest in gold thread, the floral trimmings of the voluminous dress... The artist undoubtedly belonged to the circle of Velázquez, who also left us an excellent portrait of the Infanta Maria Theresa (now in the Museum of Art History in Vienna), although showing her much younger, practically as a child. Therese of Austria (1638-1683) was Infanta of Spain and Queen Consort of France after her marriage to Louis XIV (The Sun King), a cousin on her father's (Philip IV of Spain) and mother's (Isabella of France) side. The use of drapery, the posture of the Infanta (holding a handkerchief in Velázquez's painting and a closed fan in the present one) and the use of a goldsmith's technique in the depiction of the sumptuousness of the dress are elements that this anonymous artist emulates from the master. The Infanta looks at us with an intelligent gaze (in keeping with her age, in each case). In our painting, the more adult gaze also becomes more suspicious. The rosy glow illuminates the whiteness of the skin. A pocket watch rests on the opening of the peephole. It gleams with its patina of gold and silver, as do the earrings and brooches that adorn the majestic young lady. The subject matter, the technical refinement, and the psychological capture make the author of this painting a worthy follower of Velázquez. The work also has similarities with another portrait of the Infanta by a painter close to Rubens, but also close to Velázquez.