Although he established his career by making formal state portraits of the leading figures of the Spanish monarchy, some of Velazquez's (1599-1660) most immediate captivating images are the bust-length likeness he produced in Spain during his travels in Italy. Seven exceptional portraits by Velazquez, including the Met's iconic "Juan de Pareja (1650), are on view in this focused exhibition, which shows how the artist captured the variety of the human experience.

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