Juan de Pareja: Afro‐Hispanic Painter in the Age of Velázquez.

The article explores the life and work of Juan de Pareja, an Afro-Hispanic painter who was once enslaved by Diego Velázquez, a prominent artist in seventeenth-century Spain. It discusses the challenges in identifying and attributing Pareja's paintings, as well as a recent exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art that aimed to showcase his work. The article also delves into the historical context surrounding Pareja's career and the complexities of his legacy. It emphasizes the need to recognize Pareja as an independent artist with his own unique style, rather than solely in relation to Velázquez. The exhibition and accompanying catalogue provide valuable insights into Pareja's career, with essays that offer historical context and discuss his support from Sevillian Confraternities and the possibility of courtly patronage in Madrid. However, the exhibition has limitations due to the limited number of works on display and the inability to secure loans from certain locations. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of closely examining Pareja's paintings to gain a deeper understanding of his place in seventeenth-century Spanish society and art history. [Extracted from the article]