Velazquez paintings are famous for their portraits, which rank among the finest in world art. Diego Velazquez was the greatest among all Spanish painters. Diego spent most of his life in Madrid where he was the favourite artist of King Philip IV, who let no other artist paint him.

The best known among the Velazquez paintings was a large group portrait of maids of honor, entitled Las Meninas, completed in 1656. It depicted Velazquez at his easel with members of the court. The young attendants who were part of the portrait were the ones who gave the title to the painting.

The early Velazquez paintings were made up of traditional religious themes favoured by his master, Francisco Pacheco, a local painter, with whom Diego spent a six year apprenticeship, starting at the age of 11. The naturalism of Italian painter, Caravaggio, also had an influence on him. Diego was born in Seville, Spain, in June 6, 1599.

The move to the royal court gave Diego access to a vast collection of works. He came in contact with important artists including Peter Paul Rubens, a Flemish baroque master, who spent six months at the court in 1628. Among the notable Velazquez paintings of the period was The Triumph of Bacchus, portraying a group of revellers falling under the powerful spell of the Greek god of wine.

Among the last Velazquez paintings was a group of mythological scenes for the Alcazar palace. Royal portraits remained to be on top of Diego's priorities as far as painting is concerned. These portraits would include that of Philip IV of Spain. In 1658, he was made a Knight of Santiago, an honour Diego had always desired.

In the snapshot-like painting of Las Meninas, considered to be the most acclaimed among Velazquez paintings, two handmaidens were depicted as doting on the future empress, Margarita Theresa, while Diego peers from behind a large easel. In the painting, In the portrait, Diego was ostensibly studying the king and queen, while his gaze meets the viewer.