The Frick’s Fiction
Velazquez, Portrait of Philip IV of Spain (1644)
The Frick Collection's Portrait of Philip IV by Velazquez is described as one of the best portraits he ever painted. It is indeed magnificent and has just opened as a one-painting exhibition, accompanied by new explanations of what it means, until January 2011. The trouble is The Frick thinks that it is a historical record of the King’s likeness. Of course, if they looked at this website, they would know better. They would discover, for instance, that great masters including Velazquez were not early 'photographers' but poets. What's more, “the Spanish king” in their own painting is not the Spanish king, as they imagine, but Velazquez in his own mind which they ought to be able to see. When one compares the king’s face to two self-portraits, the likeness (and, in turn, the meaning) becomes clearer. There is a short article on it here so, if a curator from the Frick happens to be reading this, do take a look.
Posted 30 Oct 2010: VelazquezMuseumsPortraitureVisual Perception
The EPPH Blog features issues and commentary.
Reader Comments