Queen Mariana of Spain (1634–1696)

Queen Mariana at the Barber Institute, connected to the standard Velazquez portrait type, shows the queen in the formal costume that defined her public image. The Birmingham location reflects the active British collecting of Spanish painting during the 19th century. Velázquez's uncompromising naturalism and psychological penetration, combined with his revolutionary loose handling of paint in his late work, made him one of the most admired painters in history, his technique anticipating Impressionism and influencing Manet, Sargent, and countless others.

The elaborate court costume creates an almost abstract pattern of silks, jewels, and hair construction. The handling suggests a workshop version executed under Velazquez's supervision, with the face receiving the most careful attention.