Head of a Laughing Boy

1622–1660 · Virkested

Madrid

1628

Rubens in Madrid

Peter Paul Rubens arrived in Madrid on a diplomatic mission, and Velázquez took him to see the Titians at the Escorial. Rubens thought highly of the young painter and, while hardly influencing his art, fired his desire to see Italy.

1629 · Virkested

Venice

July 1629

First journey to Italy

With the king's leave Velázquez left Madrid together with General Spinola, newly appointed to command Spain's forces in Italy. Suspicious Italians took Olivares's protégé for little short of a Spanish spy, but his own aim was “to perfect his professional skill”.

1629

A hasty departure from Venice for Rome

Velázquez reached Genoa at the end of August and went on via Milan to Venice. There hostility to Spaniards was fiercest, and in October he left hurriedly for Rome, where he stayed until the end of the following year.

1629–1630 · Virkested

Rome