Velázquez, Los Borrachos, and Painting at the Court of Philip IV

This book explains the origins of Los Borrachos (The Drunkards), a celebrated, but bewildering, mythological painting of international fame that Diego de Velázquez created for Philip IV of Spain around 1628–29. By studying Velázquez’s early years at court (1623–29) - a period of intense competition between him and his professional rivals - and the role that historians of his day assigned to Bacchus, the author reaches a dramatic new interpretation of the picture. There are many monographs devoted to Velázquez’s entire life, but no book focuses upon this painting or the artist’s early career at court in such depth.

• Major work of Velázquez which is always taught in Baroque courses • Author is widely known on both sides of the Atlantic; her previous book (with Missouri) sold 1000+ copies

Introduction; 1. The Web of Responses; 2. The Rising Star; 3. Bacchus and the Historians; 4. Bacchus in Iberia; Epilogue.