El príncipe Baltasar Carlos

Prince Baltasar Carlos, at the Prado, shows the heir to the Spanish throne at a young age. The multiple portraits Velazquez made of this prince document his growth from infancy to adolescence with an intimacy that suggests genuine affection between painter and subject. 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 child's round face and bright eyes are painted with the warmth and freshness that Velazquez reserved for his youngest sitters. The elaborate costume — stiff with embroidery and brocade — contrasts with the soft, living quality of the face.