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The Illusion of Mirrors: Velázquez's Las Meninas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2013

Simon Altmann
Simon Altmann*
Affiliation:
Brasenose College, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 4AJ, UK. E-mail: simon.altmann@bnc.ox.ac.uk
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Abstract

There have been dozens of interpretations of Las Meninas but most critics assume that either the Royal couple, or their portrait in the Velazquez's large canvas shown in the picture, is actually reflected on a back mirror. I shall provide evidence, however, to support the view that this mirror never existed. And there is no evidence whatsoever that the double portrait was ever painted. In view of these facts I shall make a new proposal about the way the picture was painted and about the painter's intentions. I shall show evidence that the king was adamant that he did not want his portrait painted, since he did not want to show his age (he was more than double the age of his queen). It is thus reasonable to assume that Velázquez, in order to assuage the King's qualms, created the mirror, thus allowing him to produce a very diffuse picture of the royal couple, where no evidence of aging could possibly be discerned.

Type
Focus: Art
Information
European Review , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 1 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © Academia Europaea 2013

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References

References and Notes

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