Portrait of the Infanta Maria Teresa future Queen Marie Therese of France 1653

Diego Velázquez painted this portrait of the Infanta Maria Teresa, later Queen Marie Therese of France, using oil on canvas. Velázquez was the court painter to the Spanish King, and his portraits reflect the formal conventions of the Spanish court. Notice how Maria Teresa is adorned in elaborate and expensive clothing, signifiers of wealth and power. Yet, she is still a child, as indicated by the doll-like quality of her features. Her dress is stiff, her pose formal, and she is presented as a valuable object, a royal commodity to be traded in marriage. This portrait was made during a time when the Spanish monarchy was in decline, yet it attempts to project an image of enduring power and wealth. To fully understand this painting, we need to research the history of the Spanish court, its political alliances, and the role of women within it. By doing so, we can begin to unravel the complex social and political meanings embedded within this seemingly simple portrait.