Velazquez

Prince Balthazar Carlos on a Pony

Kindergarten Lesson Plan

Place all the items in a box and follow the outline. Tape a colored print of Don Carlos on the box with the "Velasquez" word strip. Make the handouts to be cut in two. Taped a "ring pop" to the back of the handout since they looked like pacifiers. Velasquez loved to paint children! *Fun to dress up in western wear and compare riding clothes.

Globe: Born in Seville, Spain--only left the country twice...to Italy. Worked hard to develop his natural "gift" to do portraits. Used a peasant boy as a model and drew him in hundreds of poses! Started art lessons when he was quite young! (13 years old)
Family Picture: He married his art teacher's daughter when he was 20 years old. They had 2 daughters and a happy life together. Spent his last 8 years as palace "manager" - not much time to paint. Died of a fever. (working hard on Carlos's sisters wedding) and his wife died a week later 0- they were buried side and side.

Crown: Painted 3 portraits of King Philip IV (King of Spain) was appointed the King's painter when he was 25. He and his family lived at court until he died. He was also a friend and advisor to his King.
Doll Head: once accused of painting only heads (portraits) He said, "That is very high praise. I knew hardly anyone who knows hot to paint a head." He was known to be a very great artist.

Munchkin Picture: The king liked him to paint everyone in his court--even his jesters and dwarfs (show dwarf and dog in Raboff book).

Toy House: Often painted the King and Prince, and queen on their horses. Beautiful paintings! Prince Balthazar was only 5 or 6 when this portrait was done. He was a fine young horseman and would have become King of Spain, but died when he was only. (fever -not much medicine in those days.) From Robff Book: Show King Philip on horseback and Queen Isabella 3 matching portraits.
Violin: Painted everyday scenes before he became King's painter. Loved commoners and royalty alike. Happy paintings, loved the world.

$5.5 million: Juan de Pareja portrait she was a servant and pupil of Velasquez) This portrait sold for 5.5 million in 1970.

Baby doll: Talk about Infant Margarita and Queen Mariana--Philips 2nd wife. Show portrait and likeness. Also mother of Prince Philip Proper (to be the next king because Carlos died, but then he died at 4 years old). Margarita became the Empress of Austria when she was 15!
Mirror: reflection of portrait of King and Queen in mirror. Self--portrait of Velasquez doing the life-size painting. Everyone trying to coax Margarita to pose! Or did she just come to watch? Or did she just pose? One of the most famous paintings in the world

Yardstick: The painting was over 7' tall. 10'5" x 9" - wow!
Make sugar cookies in horse shape or suckers (scepters).