The artwork titled “The Court Dwarf, Don Francisco Lezcano, called ‘El Niño de Vallecas’,” was created by the renowned artist Diego Velázquez in 1637. This oil on canvas painting belongs to the Baroque art movement and measures approximately 83 x 107 cm. It’s a portrait genre piece and is currently housed in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain.
In the painting, we observe the figure of a court dwarf, known as Don Francisco Lezcano or “El Niño de Vallecas.” He is portrayed sitting on a stone in a relaxed pose with his body turned slightly to the right. The sitter’s face, lit from above, shows a contemplative or possibly melancholic expression. He is dressed in a green jacket with sleeves of a different lighter color, wearing a plain white collar. His hands are gently holding what appears to be a piece of paper or a card. The background features a dark upper portion and a landscape scene to the right of the figure, expressing the depth and contrast typical of the Baroque style. The dwarf’s figure is well illuminated, and the fine details of his attire and features demonstrate Velázquez’s mastery of portraiture and his ability to portray his subjects with respect and dignity.
