The children's book of art . es of the soldiers and thesmoke of battle, are as indispensable to the wholeas are the central figures of the Dutchman in fronthanding the city keys to the courtly Spanishgeneral. Don Balthazar Carlos was born while Velasquezwas in Italy. On his return he painted his firstportrait of him at the age of two. The littleprince is dressed in a richly-brocaded frock with asash tied round his shoulder. His hair has onlyjust begun to grow, but he has the same look ofdetermination upon his face that we see four yearslater in the equestrian portrait. A dwarf abouthis own hei
The children's book of art . es of the soldiers and thesmoke of battle, are as indispensable to the wholeas are the central figures of the Dutchman in fronthanding the city keys to the courtly Spanishgeneral. Don Balthazar Carlos was born while Velasquezwas in Italy. On his return he painted his firstportrait of him at the age of two. The littleprince is dressed in a richly-brocaded frock with asash tied round his shoulder. His hair has onlyjust begun to grow, but he has the same look ofdetermination upon his face that we see four yearslater in the equestrian portrait. A dwarf abouthis own height stands a step lower than he does, soas again to give him prominence. Another pictureof Don Balthazar a little older is in the WallaceCollection in London. Velasquezs power with his brush lay indepicting vividly a scene that he saw; thus inportraiture he was at his best. He knew how topose his figures to perfection, so as to make theexpression of their character a true pictorialsubject. In our picture it is on high ground. The Duke of the picture by Sir Joshua Reynolds, in Trinity College, Cambridge. Pagt 170 VELASQUEZ 161 that the hoofs of the pony of Don BalthazarCarlos tread. So to raise the little Princeabove the eye of the spectator was a goodstroke, suggesting an importance in the gallantyoung rider. The boys erect figure, too, firmlyholding his baton as a king might hold a sceptre,and the well-stirruped foot, are all perfect does not give him distinction in themanner of Van Dyck, by delicate drawing andgentle grace, but in a sturdier fashion, with speedand pose and a fluttering sash in the wind. Allthe portraits of this lad are full of charm. Hewas heir to the throne, but died in boyhood. Velasquez paid another visit to Italy, twentyyears after his first, for the purpose of buyingmore pictures to adorn Philips palaces. Againwe find him in Venice, where he bought twoTintorets and a Veronese, and again he made along stay in Rome, this ti
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