Velázquez was a court painter under Philip IV, often depicting the king and his family, as well as numerous courtiers and members of the Spanish nobility. His most famous work as a court painter is undoubtedly Las Meninas ("The Bridesmaids") of 1656, which shows the Infanta Margarita, daughter of Philip IV, surrounded by her court ladies. Velázquez also immortalized himself in the painting.Following its completion, the painting was hung in the Real Alcázar, the royal residence in Madrid. In 1734 the Real Alcázar burned down and was replaced by the present palace. Las Meninas was saved from the flames, so it was possible to repair minor damage and inventory it in the royal archives, under the name of The Family of Philip IV. From the year of the Prado’s founding in 1819 onward, Velázquez’s masterpiece remained on display in the museum, except for a brief interruption during the Spanish Civil War.
