The Easel

4th February 2025

The G.O.A.T. – Diego Velázquez – Comes To Los Angeles At Norton Simon Museum

This writer (like the editor) is a total Velazquez fanboy. Velazquez’ “extraordinary” portrait of Queen Marianna is on loan to the Norton Simon Museum. The work is a case study in art being used to declare the power of the Hapsburg throne. “Velazquez is a virtuoso in terms of how he handles brush strokes … you get this sense of flamboyance [and] seriousness; he’s able to capture the nuances of a person in a way that feels modern. Artists like Velázquez changed Europe’s opinion of the [art] profession.”