Las meninas

The common answer to the questions provided is **Las Meninas**.

### Explanation

**Las Meninas**, painted by Diego Velázquez in 1656, is one of the most famous works of Spanish art and a masterpiece of the Baroque period. It depicts a complex scene of the Spanish court, featuring the Infanta Margarita, the daughter of King Philip IV, surrounded by her entourage, which includes two maids of honor (the titular *meninas*), two dwarfs, a dog, a nun, and a bodyguard. Velázquez painted himself into the composition on the left, standing behind a large canvas and holding a palette and brush.

One of the intriguing aspects of *Las Meninas* is its enigmatic composition. In the background, a mirror reflects the images of King Philip IV and Queen Mariana, suggesting that they are the subjects of Velázquez's unseen painting within the painting. The figure in the doorway in the background is José Nieto, the queen’s chamberlain, adding further depth and complexity to the scene.

The painting is renowned for its sophisticated use of perspective and lighting. The viewer’s gaze is drawn through multiple layers of the composition, from the foreground figures, to Velázquez at the easel, and to the mirror reflecting the king and queen. This complex arrangement of gazes and reflections has made *Las Meninas* a frequent subject of philosophical and artistic analysis, including in Michel Foucault’s *The Order of Things*.

### Clues That Appeared in Multiple Question Stems

1. **Velázquez's Self-Portrait** (15 mentions)

   - Velázquez painted himself into *Las Meninas*, depicted standing at an easel with a red cross on his chest, symbolizing his membership in the Order of Santiago.

   - Examples: "the artist himself appears," "Velázquez standing at an easel," "the red cross on his chest."

2. **Mirror Reflecting King Philip IV and Queen Mariana** (12 mentions)

   - The mirror in the background of *Las Meninas* reflects the king and queen, who are otherwise not present in the scene. This creates a play on perspective and subjects.

   - Examples: "a mirror reflects its patrons," "the king and queen are visible in the mirror," "Philip IV and Mariana of Austria in the mirror."

3. **Infanta Margarita** (11 mentions)

   - The central figure in the painting is the young Infanta Margarita, surrounded by her maids and other court members.

   - Examples: "Infanta Margarita attended by her maids," "the Infanta Margarita is in the center," "the Infanta Margarita surrounded by attendants."

4. **Dwarfs and Dog** (8 mentions)

   - Two dwarfs and a dog are depicted to the right of Infanta Margarita. The dog is being nudged by one of the dwarfs in a playful manner.

   - Examples: "dwarfs in the right foreground," "a dwarf nudges a dog," "two dwarfs appear near a dog."

5. **Man in the Doorway (José Nieto)** (7 mentions)

   - A man standing in a doorway at the back of the room, identified as José Nieto, looks directly towards the scene, adding depth to the composition.

   - Examples: "a man in the doorway," "man in the background standing on stairs," "a man looks from a doorway."

6. **Peter Paul Rubens’s Paintings in the Background** (6 mentions)

   - The background features paintings by Peter Paul Rubens, notably *Minerva Punishing Arachne* and *Apollo’s Victory over Marsyas*.

   - Examples: "Rubens paintings in the background," "Rubens’s *Metamorphoses* series," "two Rubens canvases on the back wall."

7. **The Red Cross of the Order of Santiago** (6 mentions)

   - The red cross on Velázquez’s chest, symbolizing his knighthood in the Order of Santiago, was reportedly added to the painting after its completion.

   - Examples: "a red cross on the artist’s chest," "the cross of the Order of Santiago," "red cross was added later."

### Related Quizbowl Facts That Appeared in More Than One Toss-up on *Las Meninas*

1. **Diego ___1___** is depicted painting at an easel on the left side of *Las Meninas*, making this work one of the few historical self-portraits by this Spanish Baroque artist.

2. The painting shows a young **Infanta ___2___** being attended to by her maids of honor, dwarfs, and other members of the Spanish court.

3. In the background, a mirror reflects the images of King Philip IV and his wife, **Queen ___3___ of Austria**, who appear to be observing the scene.

4. The **Order of ___4___**, symbolized by a red cross on Velázquez’s chest, represents his knighthood, an honor that was possibly conferred after the painting was completed.

5. The man standing in the doorway in the background is **José ___5___**, the queen’s chamberlain, whose position in the doorway adds depth to the composition.

6. This painting prominently features works by **Peter Paul ___6___** in the background, specifically his depictions of *Apollo’s Victory over Marsyas* and *Minerva Punishing Arachne*.

7. **Michel ___7___** analyzed *Las Meninas* in the opening chapter of his book *The Order of Things*, exploring the complex interplay of perspectives and subjects.

---

1. Velázquez

2. Margarita

3. Mariana

4. Santiago

5. Nieto

6. Rubens

7. Foucault