Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/524

494 Painting. We know only one other picture which, as an imitation of nature, equals or perhaps even surpasses that of the Drinkers; and this other is also by Velazquez. This picture, which is usually called Las Meninas (the maids of honour), represents Velazquez painting the portrait of the Infanta Margaret, who is surrounded by her maids of honour. The Belvedere, Vienna, possesses an interesting painting from the hand of Velazquez — one showing the portraits of his own family. In the National Gallery are a Boar-hunt at Aranjuez, a Nativity, and a Portrait of Philip IV. of Spain ; also a Dead Warrior — known as el Orlando Muerto. The Water-carrier (Aguador) at Apsley House is his most celebrated picture in England; it is well known from engravings. Everywhere else, at S. Petersburg, Munich and Dresden, we merely find simple portraits as specimens of Velazquez, and some of these are rather by his copyists than by himself. His compositions give us a vivid insight into the national life of his day; the figures are evidently studied from the life, and the most humble scenes, whilst faithfully rendered, are never vulgar under his treatment. With a keen sense of humour, and a wide sympathy with human nature, under whatever rough disguise, he gave to his rustic groups a life and character scarcely inferior to that with which we are familiar in Hogarth's marvellous satires. Juan Pareja (1610 — 1670). a mulatto, the slave and valet of Velazquez, whose business it was to pound the colours, clean the brushes, and put the colours on the palette, conceived a great desire to be an artist. During the day he watched his master paint, and listened to the lessons he gave to his pupils; then, during the