International Journal of Art and Art History

Hiding in Plain Sight: A Profile of Artistic Purpose in Velazquez’s Las Meninas Or: The Artist as Creator King
Thomas Boudreau Ph.D; Andrei Ibid

Abstract
Though Diego Velazquez‘s masterpiece Las Meninas is one of the most celebrated paintings in the modern world, its full meaning is still considered somewhat of a mystery. In view of this, the authors of this essay, two experienced law enforcement profilers, employ criminal profiling analysis and techniques to examine the actual evidence in plain sight within the painting as a whole. Much commentary has been written about the skills of the artist, and various eras and styles of art or the proportions in the painting; yet, this is not simply a painting about the artist and his manifold subjects portrayed in a specific era; the evidence within the painting points us in a rather new and unique direction, providing us with a ―plausible rival hypothesis‖ about the artistic purpose in the painting. In essence, Velazquez is creating and paying deep homage to the new royal court and power of artistic creation; in turn, he is honoring the almost divine-like powers of new royalty, the artist as Creator–King. As such, we as spectators are also participants and the critical subjects and audience, in this new ROYAL COURT OF ART, as portrayed in this extraordinary painting by the Artist King, Diego Velazquez.

Full Text: PDF       DOI: 10.15640/ijaah.v7n2p1