Infanta Margarita in a Blue Dress

A Masterwork by Velázquez from Vienna that displays his loose brushstroke technique.

The latest of three portraits of the Infanta in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, this magnificent painting depicts the sitter at the age of eight, gazing warmly at the viewer and wearing a blue silk dress, richly adorned with the silver borders fashionable in Spain from the 1640s. It was preceded by the Portrait of Margarita in a Pink Dress (1654) and the Portrait of Margarita in a White Dress (1656), the latter corresponding both in costume and style to the contemporary portrait of the Infanta in Las Meninas.

Following the Prado, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, houses one of the largest and most important collections of Velázquez paintings in the world. On loan for over three months, Infanta Margarita in a Blue Dress will join three pictures by Velázquez from the Meadows Museum’s permanent collection, and will add further context to the Museum’s exceptional holdings of painted portraits.

This exhibition is organized by the Meadows Museum. It is part of the Museum’s Golden Anniversary, which is sponsored by The Meadows Foundation, The Moody Foundation, the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District and the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Related event

Orchestra of New Spain presents: Music for Portrait of Infanta Margarita in Blue Dress

• On Thursday, July 30 at 6:30 pm at The Meadows Museum (The Boston Room).
• Free, but reservations required. Contact The Orchestra of New Spain at 214.750.1492 or visit orchestraofnewspain.org for more information and reservations.

While Diego Velázquez was painting secular subjects for the court, there were musical artists exploring the delights of what we now call secular music, and what in other cultures were called madrigals, chansons and carols (and not just for Christmas!) Tonos humanos of the late Renaissance allowed guitarists and poets of the early 17th century the liberty of moving beyond traditional references to Mary and Christ in order to express earthly love in and for itself, just as Velazquez had left behind religious painting for courtly and aristocratic subjects.

The music for this concert is for five players and singers, intimate music for amorous ends and entertainments: Eric Smith on cello; Gregory Hamilton on theorbo (bass) and guitar; Heidi Klein and Katrina Burggraf-Kledas, sopranos; and Nicolas Garza, male alto. Among the works on the program will be music from Tous les Matins du Monde of Marin Marais.