. Sketches of great painters for young people. of emotion in the faces, the picture is elo-quent and moving. Another important religious pic-ture, painted by Velasquez in the latter part of his life,is the Coronation of the Virgin. When Velasquez dealt with mythological subjects, themythical heroes became people of the everyday is a simple portrait of some Spanish soldier, notthe god of war, such as fancy pictures him. The sameis true of the Forge of Vulcan, in which the figures arewonderfully painted, though they do not suggest theheroes that the poets have sung. The most remarkabl
. Sketches of great painters for young people. of emotion in the faces, the picture is elo-quent and moving. Another important religious pic-ture, painted by Velasquez in the latter part of his life,is the Coronation of the Virgin. When Velasquez dealt with mythological subjects, themythical heroes became people of the everyday is a simple portrait of some Spanish soldier, notthe god of war, such as fancy pictures him. The sameis true of the Forge of Vulcan, in which the figures arewonderfully painted, though they do not suggest theheroes that the poets have sung. The most remarkableof his works of this kind is the Bacchus, or the is almost a touch of satire in his treatment of suchthemes, so completely does he rob them of poetic charm. Two of the most striking figures painted by Velasquezare those to which he gave the names of the Greekphilosopher, Menippus, and the celebrated fabulist,JEsop, a Phrygian slave who lived about the sixthcentury , and was made a freedman on account ofhis wit and 202 SKETCHES OF GREAT PAINTERS. Just before his second visit to Italy, Velasquezpainted a great historical picture, called the Surrenderof Breda, or the Lances. When on his way to Italyfor the first time, he crossed the Mediterranean withCount Spinola. From the conquerors lips he learnedthe details of the surrender of the stronghold of Bredaby the Dutch. It was an incident in the long andobstinate resistance of the Dutch to Spanish power ;and Velasquez found it an inspiring subject for a pic-ture, especially as it would immortalize the victory ofthe Spanish army. In the background of the pictureis an immense plain, a panorama showing canals andtents bathed in light. On the right is the Spanisharmy, drawn up as for parade or battle, displayingstandards, ensigns, and a forest of lances, which givethe name to the picture. On the left are Dutch sol-diers, heavy and phlegmatic in comparison with thedistinguished and haughty Spaniards. The horse
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectpainters, bookyear190
