Queen Mariana of Austria by Velázquez, 1652-1653. Recorded on September 11, 2024

Mariana of Austria (1634-1696) was the daughter of the Emperor Ferdinand III and María of Austria, Queen of Hungary. It was intended that she marry her cousin, Prince Baltasar Carlos, but following his death she married Philip IV in 1649. Velázquez executed this portrait after his return from Italy and this became the model for the official image of Mariana during the early years of her reign. American Friends helps share the Prado's collection with a weekly session in English on the museum's social media. We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization of the United States dedicated to supporting the Museo del Prado and promoting visibility of its art collection. All of our projects are made possible thanks to contributor support. Join and help us do more. https://www.afpradomuseum.org