Juan de Pareja, Afro-Hispanic Painter | Exhibition Tour | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Apr 2023

In this video, we visit a new exhibition at The Met Museum - Juan de Pareja, Afro-Hispanic Painter.
On view: April 3 - July 16, 2023
The show offers an unprecedented look at the life and artistic achievements of 17th-century Afro-Hispanic painter Juan de Pareja (ca. 1608-1670). Primarily known today as the subject of The Met’s iconic portrait by Diego Velázquez, Pareja - who was born in Antequera, Spain - was enslaved in Velázquez’s studio for over two decades before becoming an artist in his own right. This presentation is the first to tell his story and examine how enslaved artisanal labor and a multiracial society are inextricably linked with the art and material culture of Spain’s “Golden Age.”
More information: www.metmuseum....

[@georgeanthony7282]

While this show attempts to showcase Juan de Pareja's works and achievements... I have to say, you still have to give Diego Velazquez credit for creating that opportunity. For none of it would have happened had Velazquez himself decided not to do an unusual painting of a commoner. The fact that Diego chose to do so instead of painting someone of nobility (as was the norm in those days in Rome) speaks something of Velazquez. Of course I don't condone slavery or mistreatments of human beings. But that was the time then... unfortunately. On a personal note, I do want to say that the Juan de Pareja painting has been hanging there for such a long time... I believed it was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a mere 5 million dollars in 1971. Why it hasn't received the recognition it deserved much earlier is a mystery to me. For my money, it's more spectacular than "The Mona Lisa"... and on even par with Vermeer's "The
Girl With A Pearl Earing" and Rembrandt's extraordinary self portraits!