# The Buffoon Pablo de Valladolid

[View the canonical artwork record](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/the-buffoon-pablo-de-valladolid-r3a2cf001ec9a3b>)

## Artwork

- Artist: [VELAZQUEZ, Diego Rodriguez de Silva y](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882>)
- Date: 1601-1650
- Technique: Oil on canvas, 214 x 125 cm

## Commentary

The court jester, posing like an actor, stands in a curiously indeterminate space showing no floor-line. This portrait is revolutionary in that Velázquez reduces space to a neutral element in picture-making. Later painters such as Goya and Manet were enthusiastic about this masterpiece, not least for its originally glowing tones of grey in the background, now turned to an unattractive ochre.

## Related artworks

- [A White Horse](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/a-white-horse-r88fda1098b410c>)
- [A Young Man \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/a-young-man-detail-rfd0607be7157a9>)
- [Abbess Jerónima de la Fuente](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/abbess-jernima-de-la-fuente-r4ae45416cac1ec>)
- [Aesop](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/aesop-rf47ea618134f06>)
- [Arachne](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/arachne-r5d492e08cd92be>)
- [Breakfast](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/breakfast-r969876461636b8>)
- [Cardinal Infante Don Fernando as a Hunter](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/cardinal-infante-don-fernando-as-a-hunter-r460000ec0a192b>)
- [Christ in the House of Mary and Martha \(detail\)](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/christ-in-the-house-of-mary-and-martha-detail-rf3e0f896577f0b>)
- [Christ in the House of Mary and Martha](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/christ-in-the-house-of-mary-and-martha-r2c40f1294502af>)
- [Christ on the Cross](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/christ-on-the-cross-r0ec1c4cab313e8>)
- [Court Dwarf Don Antonio el Inglés](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/court-dwarf-don-antonio-el-ingls-re2ec030fe54f9e>)
- [Democritus](<https://beta.wga.hu/artists/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y-r4f5af220b7c882/democritus-r2c7cf426a69fef>)

## Attribution

[Web Gallery of Art](<https://beta.wga.hu/pages/about>)