SIMOF 30 Edition 2025 * ‘We are all SIMOF’
Cádiz: A Gateway to the superb Andalusian city & region in the south of Spain
SIMOF 2024 * More Than Fashion… An Experience!
‘TABLAO’ with Grammy© Award-winning Cantaor ARCANGEL
Mariana: Velázquez’s Portrait of a Queen from the Museo del Prado
Fri, Dec 13, 2024 — Mon, Mar 24, 2025
Norton Simon Museum, 411 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105
This exhibition at the Norton Simon Museum highlights Diego Velázquez’s 1652–53 portrait of Queen Mariana of Austria, showcasing her regal attire and emotional depth, alongside works by other notable artists, revealing her artistic and political influence.
Diego Velázquez’s painting Queen Mariana of Austria (1652–53) is central to the exhibition Mariana: Velázquez’s Portrait of a Queen, which originates from the Museo del Prado and is part of the Norton Simon Museum’s Loan Exchange Program with the Spanish national art museum.
This portrait of Queen Mariana of Austria is notable among Velázquez’s works, portraying the 18-year-old monarch in full regal attire. She wears a black and silver dress typical of Spanish fashion, enhanced by the guardainfante, a rigid support structure that accentuates her figure. The queen, recently recovered from childbirth, gazes out with a serious expression, contrasting with her elaborate wig and feathered headpiece. This painting marked Velázquez’s return to Madrid from Rome and marked a new phase in his career focused on women and children, characterized by sensitivity and vibrant colors.
The exhibition explores how art and life influenced Velázquez’s portrayal of Mariana and shaped the queen’s political perspective. Displayed for the first time on the West Coast, Velázquez’s monumental work will be showcased alongside pieces from an international selection of artists collected by the Habsburg court, including Nicolas Poussin, Guido Reni, and Peter Paul Rubens, significant highlights from the Norton Simon Museum’s collection.
