The Infanta Margarita and her maids of honour are caught in a moment, while Velázquez himself stands at a huge canvas and looks straight at us. Or at the king and queen, reflected in the mirror behind. A puzzle about seeing, painting and power.
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The red cross on the painter's chest is the Order of Santiago, which he received three years after finishing the picture. It was added later.
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Compared by a vision model
