Portrait of a Lady

Portrait of a Lady at the Gemaldegalerie Berlin, painted around 1635, depicts an unidentified woman of the Spanish court. The elaborately dressed sitter's identity has been debated by scholars, but her costume and bearing indicate membership in the highest levels of Madrid society. 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 intricate lace collar and jeweled accessories are rendered with Velazquez's characteristic precision in depicting luxury materials. The face, framed by the elaborate costume, is painted with the same warmth and naturalism he brought to all his sitters, regardless of their finery.