Las Menina Comparison

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Las Meninas Compare/ContrastThe original Las Meninas was created by Diego Velázquez in the year 1656, Las Meninas translating to Ladies in Waiting. About three centuries later Pablo Picasso who was a very well known spanish painter, recreated Las Meninas in a form of art called cubism 58 times. There are many similarities and differences between the original painting of Las Meninas and the interpretations of Pablo Picasso.There are very few similarities visible but noticeable. One similarity is that both paintings have the Infanta which means princess. Another not so noticeable one is the lady in waiting aspect. In Diego Velázquez’s painting the ladies can be identified easily. In Pablo Picasso’s I noticed a pair

These are several differences between the original and the interpretation.There could be many valid reasons why Diego Velázquez painted Las Meninas, but I have my own idea of why. Diego Velázquez was lead artist of King Philip IV (Fourth) and a very important artist of the Spanish Golden Age. Because Diego worked and lived with royalty, he would have gotten many requests for self-portraits, and arrangement of scenes, and more. I think he was requested to paint a scene of maidens serving the princess. This here leads on to why I think he painted it. As said earlier, he worked and lived with the royal family. If he refused to paint something that most likely would have ended up as treason and then death. Or Diego wanted everyone to see the full extent of his artwork and himself. These are the possible reasons why he painted Las Meninas was because he had to. This is why I think he painted Las Meninas and what he depicted in it.Around three whole centuries later Pablo Picasso, a famous Spanish artist known for the art style cubism, re-created Las Meninas 58 times. There could be several reasons why he made these and what he portrayed in them and I have my own opinion. I think the reason he made the renditions was to help other people, and possibly himself, understand the meaning of Las Meninas. Paintings usually have a reason for why they were painted, some people may not understand so other artist interpret them like Picasso. That is why I think Pablo created 58 renditions of Las Meninas.In conclusion, both artists were widely known across Spain and were famous to this day because of their art. Las Meninas was originally painted by Diego Velázquez depicted a princess being served by hand maidens. One of Pablo Picasso’s interpretations of Las Meninas showed only the princess and