Thursday, May 31, 2007

Pacheco, his famous pupil, and some comments on "influence"

(cross-posted at Blog Meridian)

Yesterday I was surprised to learn that Peter Harrup, the administrator for the Facebook group "The Genius of Diego Velázquez," named me as an officer for that group: Francisco Pacheco. Wonderful, I thought . . . but, who is he? Way leads on to way in the Internets, and what follows are the results of that wandering, along with some speculation and musing.

I quickly learned via consulting my copy of the catalogue of the 1989 Velázquez exhibition at the Met (which, by the way, is well worth seeking out, especially if you a) love Velázquez and/but b) don't have a lot of money) that Pacheco was Velázquez' principle teacher and, eventually, his father-in-law. Pacheco was an agent of the Inquisition and thus very much a loyal adherent to the values propagated by the Counter-Reformation. Though well regarded as a teacher, his talent as a painter was never more than pedestrian1; however, unlike many other tutors whose pupils outshine them, it appears Pacheco wasn't jealous of Velázquez's abilities but taught him what he knew, especially with regard of the then-emerging tendencies toward realism, and then got out of the way. His book El arte de la pintura is still considered an authoritative source of information from the time.

I probably would not have begun to write this post, though, had it not been for going on to read the Wikipedia article on Pacheco--specifically, this sentence:

Although Velázquez was a student in Pacheco's school for six years, and married Pacheco's daughter Juana in 1618, there is no trace of Pacheco's influence in the work of Velázquez.

"No trace"? That seemed to me a bold claim to make; consider Jackson Pollack, who, when asked what he learned when he studied under Thomas Hart Benton (an odd pairing, to say the least), replied, "How not to paint."2 So, I decided to do some looking around for more takes on Pacheco's influence on Velázquez, and I wound up in a surprising place--a post I wrote earlier this month.

In the course of Googling, I discovered a review of a book by Jane Boyd and Philip F Esler, Visuality and Biblical Text: Interpreting Velázquez' "Christ with Martha and Mary" as a Test Case. This was startling because, as readers of this blog know, I had just posted on this very painting. Anyway, in the course of listing some paintings that Velázquez might have seen that may have influenced his painting, the reviewer mentions"St. Sebastian healed by St. Irene, 1616] by Francisco Pacheco (1564-1644, Velázquez's teacher and father-in-law) combining two episodes from the legend of St Sebastian, one seen through a window of the room in which the other occurs[.]"
(Here, by the way, is where I found this image.)

There is no denying the compositional similarities between the Pacheco and the Velázquez, especially if it's the case that, as with the Pacheco, the Velázquez depicts two chronologically-distinct moments. Having said that, though, the Velázquez is no mere copy. The Pacheco has an almost-medieval quality to it in its handling of perspective; as has often been noted, his pupil's painting is a fusion of the religious subject and the genre of the bodegón, itself influenced by Dutch paintings of domestic scenes. Also, the Pacheco lacks any tension between the painting and the painting-within-a-painting: the latter serves to explain the circumstances depicted in the former. The Velázquez, though, is another matter entirely, as I pointed out in my post on it.

So, then: "influence." As a teacher myself, I find my students wanting to give me credit for things they have learned when, in fact, all I had done was give them the opportunity to learn the things they were thanking me for. As it were, I supply the canvas and encouragement, and I have some things to say about the virtues of exploring, of being intellectually curious, but they still have to do the painting, and that they do on their own. What is striking to me about Velázquez's art, quite apart from the brush-wielding, is the intellectual curiosity that fuels it, the willingness to experiment with the tried-and-true. I cannot help but think that it's those qualities that Pacheco encouraged in his pupil; the rest of the time, though, I suspect he alternated between sizing up young Dieguito as a potential match for his daughter and marvelling at his talent, wondering--in a good way--as I myself have had to with some of my students, what he might possibly be able to teach him.

1The Spanish-language Wikipedia article, however, is more generous in its assessment, and indeed includes brief commentary on some of Pacheco's paintings.

2I just now realize that that statement will read differently, depending on one's opinion of Pollack or of Benton.

56 comments:

Anonymous said...

[url=http://community.bsu.edu/members/buy+online+Viagra.aspx]buying Viagra without a prescription[/url]

[url=http://eterporno.ru/prostitutki-g-hmelnickiy.php]проститутки г хмельницкий[/url]
[url=http://eterporno.ru/pamyatnik-prostitutke-praga.php]памятник проститутке прага[/url]

[url=http://pc.eterporno.ru/prostitutki-saratova-engelsa.php]проститутки саратова энгельса[/url]
[url=http://pc.eterporno.ru/prostitutki-g-voronezha.php]проститутки г воронежа[/url]

[url=http://pv.eterporno.ru/gei-prostitutki-ostavili-soobscheniy.php]геи проститутки оставили сообщений[/url]
[url=http://pv.eterporno.ru/dosug-almaty-transseksual.php]досуг алматы транссексуал[/url]
[url=http://px.eterporno.ru/index.php]интим услуги барнаул[/url]
[url=http://px.eterporno.ru/mamba-sayt-znakomstv-samyy-populyarnyy.php]мамба сайт знакомств самый популярный[/url]
[url=http://px.eterporno.ru/telefon-seks-znakomstva.php]телефон секс знакомства[/url]

[url=http://pz.eterporno.ru/dosug-nu.php]досуг ну[/url]
[url=http://pz.eterporno.ru/seks-bolshogo-goroda.php]секс большого города[/url]

Anonymous said...

Интересно написано....но многое остается непонятнымb

Anonymous said...

Интересно написано....но многое остается непонятнымb

Anonymous said...

[u][b]Xrumer[/b][/u]

[b]Xrumer SEO Professionals

As Xrumer experts, we from been using [url=http://www.xrumer-seo.com]Xrumer[/url] quest of a wish time conditions and grasp how to harness the enormous power of Xrumer and turn it into a Bills machine.

We also provender the cheapest prices on the market. Many competitors devise cost 2x or consistent 3x and a end of the time 5x what we pervade you. But we believe in providing enormous accommodation at a debilitated affordable rate. The whole incidental of purchasing Xrumer blasts is because it is a cheaper surrogate to buying Xrumer. So we aim to stifle that contemplating in mind and outfit you with the cheapest grade possible.

Not simply do we take the best prices but our turnaround in the good old days b simultaneously for your Xrumer posting is wonderful fast. We will take your posting done to come you distinguish it.

We also cater you with a roundish log of well-heeled posts on contrary forums. So that you can see for yourself the power of Xrumer and how we hold harnessed it to emoluments your site.[/b]


[b]Search Engine Optimization

Using Xrumer you can trust to distinguish thousands upon thousands of backlinks in behalf of your site. Myriad of the forums that your Place you will be posted on bear acute PageRank. Having your link on these sites can truly serve build up some crown grade back links and uncommonly riding-boot your Alexa Rating and Google PageRank rating through the roof.

This is making your site more and more popular. And with this increase in celebrity as familiarly as PageRank you can keep in view to witness your place in effect superiority high in those Search Locomotive Results.
Conveyance

The amount of conveyance that can be obtained nearby harnessing the power of Xrumer is enormous. You are publishing your plat to tens of thousands of forums. With our higher packages you may even be publishing your locality to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of forums. Create 1 brief on a stylish forum will usually get 1000 or so views, with signify 100 of those people visiting your site. Modern imagine tens of thousands of posts on fashionable forums all getting 1000 views each. Your shipping liking function at the end of one's tether with the roof.

These are all targeted visitors that are interested or exotic far your site. Deem how many sales or leads you can achieve with this considerable loads of targeted visitors. You are in fact stumbling upon a goldmine primed to be picked and profited from.

Remember, Shipping is Money.
[/b]

TRAVERSE B RECOVER YOUR CHEAPLY ERUPTION TODAY:


http://www.xrumer-seo.com

Anonymous said...

[B]NZBsRus.com[/B]
Forget Idle Downloads Using NZB Downloads You Can Instantly Search High Quality Movies, Console Games, Music, Applications and Download Them @ Alarming Rates

[URL=http://www.nzbsrus.com][B]Newsgroup Search[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

Predilection casinos? digging this advanced [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com]casino[/url] advisor and tergiversate online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more at www.realcazinoz.com .
you can also into our redesigned [url=http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com]casino[/url] give something at http://freecasinogames2010.webs.com and rally reliable mutation !
another lone [url=http://www.ttittancasino.com]casino spiele[/url] within an eyelash of is www.ttittancasino.com , in compensation german gamblers, dub manumitted online casino bonus.

Anonymous said...

Someone deleted a variety of links from gotupload and depositfiles ...

From now, we will use www.tinyurlalternative.com as our main [url=http://www.tinyurlalternative.com]url shortener[/url], so every url will be there and visible for everyone.

You can pick out from several great [url=http://kfc.ms]short url[/url] names like:

kfc.ms easysharelink.info jumpme.info megauploadlink.info megavideolink.info mygamelink.info myrapidsharelink.info mytorrentlink.info myurlshortener.com mywarezlink.info urlredirect.info urlshrinker.info weblinkshortener.com youtubelink.info and many others.

They have over 60 other ready domains and the [url=http://myurlshortener.com]url shortener[/url] service work properly for free without any registration needed.

So we think it is good idea and propose you to use [url=http://urlredirect.info]url redirect[/url] service too!

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

It isn't hard at all to start making money online in the hush-hush world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat world[/URL], You are far from alone if you haven’t heard of it before. Blackhat marketing uses alternative or misunderstood ways to produce an income online.

Anonymous said...

You could easily be making money online in the undercover world of [URL=http://www.www.blackhatmoneymaker.com]blackhat code[/URL], Don’t feel silly if you haven’t heard of it before. Blackhat marketing uses little-known or not-so-known ways to produce an income online.

Anonymous said...

Hey i am new on this forum i hope i can help & contribute here because i have learned a huge amount myself.

Thank you

[URL=http://plasteringcoursesuk.co.uk][B]plastering courses essex[/B][/URL]

Anonymous said...

Bonjour,
je suis nouveau ici j'aime vous lire ;)
je voulais vous remercier pour votre super site internet !
Bonne continuation
----
Nicolaseo, Rien de mieux que le referencement naturel.

buy viagra online said...

Hi! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your post; this posting has evoked the most response.

sports handicapping software said...

very interesting definitely a great job a super artist

Anonymous said...

hello nicely done by the site play casino games

discussed post, so want to notice everything you come up with up coming!
online casino

Anonymous said...

xanax buy online no prescription xanax overdose can kill you - order xanax online mastercard

Anonymous said...

ss cheap cialis , cheapest cialis , cialis pills , viagra sale , order viagra , viagra professional

Anonymous said...

arfe cheap cialis , cheapest cialis , online cialis , buying viagra , womens viagra , buy generic viagra online

Anonymous said...

rt buy cheap cialis online , tadalafil cialis , cialis 40 mg pills , viagra online without prescription , viagra brand for sale , viagra prescription online

Anonymous said...

srg cialis 5mg daily , buy cialis online without prescription , buy discount cialis , generic viagra online pharmacy , viagra without prescription , brand name viagra online sales

Anonymous said...

s viagra generic , viagra on line , viagra cheap , cialis prices , order cialis , cialis 20mg

Anonymous said...

rfg viagra online , viagra cheap , generic viagra , cialis cheap , cialis , cialis generic

Anonymous said...

cheap generic viagra order cheap viagra online canada - order viagra south africa

Anonymous said...

buy viagra no prescription men's health viagra online - where to buy viagra us

Anonymous said...

buy soma aura soma 91 - soma generic

Anonymous said...

soma muscle soma drug info - generic soma mg

Anonymous said...

buy tadalafil buy cialis online usa - cialis half price

Anonymous said...

cialis online cheap cialis pills online - cialis daily use buy online

Anonymous said...

cialis online canada cialis daily order - legitimate online pharmacy cialis

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol online tramadol 50mg used dogs - tramadol 50 mg dogs side effects

Anonymous said...

order tramadol no prescription tramadol gabapentin interaction - tramadolor 100 mg

Anonymous said...

buy cialis cialis libido - cialis max dosage

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol next day tramadol hcl pain - 50 mg tramadol vs 10 mg hydrocodone

Anonymous said...

generic cialis generic cialis at walmart - buy 36 hour cialis

Anonymous said...

generic xanax alprazolam 0 5mg germed - xanax effects on pregnancy

Anonymous said...

xanax online canadian xanax cheap - overdose symptoms for xanax

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol neurontin and tramadol high - buy tramadol 180

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol buy tramadol from usa - tramadol overdose fatal amount

Anonymous said...

Ι was suggestеd this website by my cousin.
I am not ѕure whеther thiѕ pοst іѕ written by hіm as noboԁу else know suсh detаіled аbout my dіffiсulty.
Yοu're wonderful! Thanks!

My web site - diet plans

Anonymous said...

I waѕ suggested this website by my cousin. I am
not ѕure whether thiѕ post is written by hіm as nobody else κnοw such
ԁetailed about my ԁіfficulty. You're wonderful! Thanks!

Here is my web blog: diet plans
My webpage: diet plans

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol tramadol no prescription free shipping - tramadol hcl bp monograph

Anonymous said...

buy cialis from canada buy cheap cialis online no prescription - buy cialis online fast shipping generic

Anonymous said...

klonopin without prescriptions what is klonopin for anxiety - buy klonopin india

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol overnight cod tramadol 400 mg - tramadol hydrochloride online

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online best dose of klonopin for anxiety - klonopin side effects acne

Anonymous said...

buy tramadol 100mg tramadol hcl acet - tramadol generic drug

Anonymous said...

Greetings! I've been reading your blog for a while now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Texas! Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent job!

Look into my blog post: Achat tweet pas cher

Anonymous said...

Hello every one, here every person is sharing these knowledge, thus it's fastidious to read this blog, and I used to visit this blog every day.

Also visit my webpage ... vues youtube
My web site > comment avoir plus de vues youtube

Anonymous said...

Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you be acquainted with afterward you can write or else it is complex to
write.

Also visit my website augmenter vu youtube

Anonymous said...

If you are going for finest contents like I do, just visit this web site everyday as it provides quality contents, thanks

Feel free to visit my web page: plus de retweet

Anonymous said...

buy klonopin online buy klonopin online canada - klonopin side effects baby

Anonymous said...

http://southcarolinaaccidentattorney.com/#51643 carisoprodol classification - soma carisoprodol same

Anonymous said...

Hi there i am kavin, its my first occasion to commenting anywhere, when i read this article
i thought i could also make comment due to this sensible piece of writing.


Review my weblog - senuke xcr review

Anonymous said...

Υour oωn post provides provеn bеneficіаl to me personally.
Ӏt’ѕ really useful and you're obviously quite experienced in this area. You get exposed my face for you to varying opinion of this specific topic together with intriguing, notable and strong content material.
Also visit my blog wikifestera.com

Anonymous said...

Your own post оffeгs cоnfiгmeԁ nеcеssаry to mуself.
It’s ѵery educаtional anԁ you're simply naturally extremely experienced in this region. You get exposed my personal sight for you to numerous opinion of this matter along with intriguing and solid articles.

my blog post ativan
Also visit my blog post valium

Anonymous said...

What's up to all, as I am genuinely eager of reading this website'ѕ
post to be updated regularly. It contains fastidiοus ԁata.


My webѕite ... Arjun Kanuri

Anonymous said...

It's almost Halloween, which means lower taxes--especially corporate taxes--and more limited government regulation. Dylan Moses must be one heck of a football field, towers rising hundreds of feet in the air, according to anationwide survey released Monday by the American Sustainable Philadelphia Accident Lawyers Council, which is conducted every year. Let's explore Some philadelphia accident
lawyerses use 'professional philadelphia accident lawyers attire' or 'philadelphia accident lawyers casual', as mentioned above.
Which is why being a pooper-scooper can be financial rewarding.
Working for Working Americans, a union-run super PAC, has contributed $3.



Feel free to visit my page :: philadelphia personal injury lawyer