Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish Baroque painter, the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV of Spain and Portugal, and of the Spanish Golden Age. He is generally considered one of the greatest artists in the history of Western art.

Diego Velázquez's artistic style is characterized by naturalism focusing on the accurate depiction of detail and the use of light and shadow to create depth. He moved away from traditional methods, incorporating techniques from Caravaggio while developing a unique approach that emphasized authenticity over glamorization.