Infanta Margarita (1651–1673) in a Blue Dress

This portrait documents the degree of freedom Velázquez was able to achieve in his handling. It was his final portrait of the now eight-year-old princess. Together with the portrait of her brother Felipe Prospero (no. 42) it was sent to Emperor Leopold I in Vienna in 1659.

She wears a blue guardainfante, her left hand is clutching a precious muff. The heavy chain of honour lies on her wide skirt. Both fabrics and fur are rendered with remarkable virtuosity, painted, like the golden chain, with fluent brushstrokes. Close up one sees only quick, thick brushwork, but from a distance they turn into a snapshot of flashing highlights on velvet and gold, with the shimmering dabs of paint turning into incredibly realistic renderings of real objects. It was details such as these that led Édouard Manet to hail Velázquez as the »painter of painters« in the 19th century.