The artwork “The Infanta Margarita Teresa of Spain in a Red Dress” is an oil on canvas painting by the renowned Baroque artist Diego Velazquez, created in 1653. Measuring 100 x 128.5 cm, this portrait is part of the collection at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria. The painting belongs to the Baroque period and portrays Infanta Margarita Teresa in an extravagant red dress, capturing the opulence and formal elegance of Spanish royal attire.
In the artwork, Infanta Margarita Teresa is depicted standing against a dark, undefined background, giving the vivid red of her dress a dramatic contrast. The detail and texture of her dress are exquisitely rendered, from the intricate lace to the luxurious patterns and folds of the fabric. The Infanta’s face shows a youthful innocence with a hint of the formality expected from a member of the royal family. With her blond hair and pale complexion, she looks directly at the viewer, while her small hands are delicately poised, one holding a handkerchief, the other gently resting on what appears to be a part of a chair or table draped with a blue cloth, next to which sits a vase of flowers. The deft use of light and shadow by Velazquez brings a three-dimensional quality to the figure, showcasing his mastery of portraiture.
