Greatest Paintings: The Ghost of Spain – Velázquez’s Las Meninas

The Rest Is History

Why does Diego Velázquez’ Las Meninas represent the fading Spanish Golden Age? How did he challenge the boundaries between viewer and artwork? And, in what ways does his defining style foreshadow Impressionism and serve as an indirect image of his own genius?


In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts.


FUTURE EPISODES....



Feb 18th: The Skating Minister - Henry Raeburn


Feb 25th: The Angelus - Jean-François Millet


_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More description

Why does Diego Velázquez’ Las Meninas represent the fading Spanish Golden Age? How did he challenge the boundaries between viewer and artwork? And, in what ways does his defining style foreshadow Impressionism and serve as an indirect image of his own genius?


In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts.


FUTURE EPISODES....



Feb 18th: The Skating Minister - Henry Raeburn


Feb 25th: The Angelus - Jean-François Millet


_______

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan

Social Producer: Harry Balden

Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producer: Dom Johnson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2026-02-10 6 min
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