Portrait of the court dwarf known as el Primo, after Velázquez

Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish
 After Velázquez (Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez) Spanish

Not on view

Velázquez’s painted portraits of court jesters convey profound insight to their personalities. In 1644 the entertainer known as El Primo accompanied King Philip IV to Aragon, where he sat for Velázquez. In his etching based on that work, Goya accentuates the intensity of the sitter's gaze; the dark background created by a dense network of lines serves to project his figure toward the viewer. Here, El Primo appears altogether more assertive, even confrontational—subtle differences intentionally introduced by Goya that make his interpretation distinct.

Portrait of the court dwarf known as el Primo, after Velázquez, Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux), Etching

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Portrait of the court dwarf known as el Primo, after Velázquez, Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux), Etching
Portrait of the court dwarf known as el Primo, after Velázquez, Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux), Etching

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