Diego Velázquez died on 6 August 1660 in Madrid, aged about 61. A Spanish painter of the Golden Age, Velázquez was born in Seville, where he trained, and moved to Madrid, where he became court painter to King Philip IV. He painted portraits of the royal family and court, as well as religious subjects, scenes of everyday life, and The Surrender of Breda. His masterpiece Las Meninas of 1656 plays with space and the viewer's gaze in an unusual way. On visits to Italy he painted the portrait of Pope Innocent X and the Rokeby Venus. His free brushwork and sense of light influenced later artists, notably Édouard Manet.
Before and after
- 1660Founding of Franklin
- c. 1660Eruption of Long Island
- 3 May 1660Treaty of Oliva
- 7 June 1660Birth of George I of Great Britain
- 6 August 1660Death of Diego Velázquez
- November 1660Founding of Royal Society of London
- 1661Construction of Palace of Versailles
- 1662The last confirmed sighting of the dodo
- 30 April 1662Birth of Mary II of England
More in Art, literature & culture
- 15th centuryConstruction of Red Square
- 1600Rise of Baroque music
- 1602Publication of Hamlet
- 1670Construction of avenue des Champs-Élysées
- 17th centuryRise of ukiyo-e
- October 1745Publication of God Save the King
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 17th century.