Velazquez and Cassatt

A comparison of two portraits; Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez's "Juan de Pareja" and Mary Cassatt's "Lady at the Tea Table".

741 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper describes and analyzes two portraits from different eras and movements; Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez's "Juan de Pareja" from 1650 and Mary Cassatt's "Lady at the Tea Table" from 1885. The paper identifies how these artists have utilized the same factors of artificial symmetry and contrast and gaze of the subject in order to reach different goals.

From the Paper:

"The first painting to be studied is Velazquez's Juan de Pareja. The first thing that is striking upon viewing this portrait is its two-dimensional composition. The figure, Pareja, is composed in the space asymmetrically. The man is aligned to the left side of the portrait, his head and body filling the space to the left of center. Yet, his chest/torso, cloak, and arm fill the right side of the space rather well. While Velazquez does not exhibit symmetry in his two-dimensional composition by doing this, he achieves what this writer feels is a rather nice effect. The proudly displayed chest and body of Pareja give a sense of regality and pride to the portrait."

Sample of Sources Used:

Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez. Juan de Pareja. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Mary Cassatt. Lady at the Tea Table. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.