Court painter to King Philip IV of Spain, Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (June 1599–August 6, 1660) is not only a leading light of the Spanish Golden Age, but among the most celebrated masters in all Western art history. This fresh TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 edition introduces Velázquez through key works from throughout his career. From humble genre scenes to the royal portraits, the exquisite Rockeby Venus nude, and the ever-mysterioius Las Meninas, we explore his exceptional attention to composition, masterful handling of tone, and his remarkable influence as, in Manet's words,"the greatest painter of all."