Diego Velázquez biography
Profile
Born in Seville, Spain, circa June 6, 1599, Diego Velázquez was a Spanish painter whose early works were mostly religious or genre scenes. On a visit to Rome Velázquez painted a portrait of Pope Innocent X, an advanced work that announced the last stage in Velázquez's development. This portrait was copied innumerable times and won Velázquez immediate and lasting renown in Italy, furthering his reputation as one of the giants of Western art. He died in Madrid, Spain, on August 6, 1660.