La Coronación de la Virgen Diego Rodriguez De Silva y Velazquez (1599-1660)

Description of Diego Velázquez’s The Coronation of Mary

The painting was created by the artist in 1645.

By this time Velázquez was already quite famous. He could paint in a variety of styles: genre painting, religion, history, and myths. Velázquez had a special handwriting that was unique to his hand.

The painting depicts the crowning of the Virgin Mary with the Holy Trinity. The great event takes place in heaven, after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which she was to receive with dignity for her purity, chastity and holiness. Velázquez’s painting describes the last of the episodes of her life, the climax, according to the Roman Catholic Church. Later, similar episodes began to be depicted on the walls of all Christian churches.

It is the coronation that makes the Virgin Mary the Queen of Heaven. This event is celebrated by the Catholic Church, in Orthodoxy there is only the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Velázquez portrayed this event with particular depth on his canvas. The face of the Virgin is filled with light, humility and prayer. Her savior son and the Lord hold a wreath of flowers over her head, which heralds her ascension.

Above their heads the artist depicted divine light. The Virgin Mary now stands at the right hand of the Lord God and intercedes for sinners. The Holy Spirit, who is depicted as a dove, illuminates the great event with incredible light.

Angels and cherubim fly around, rejoicing and singing to the Queen of Heaven. The picture is mesmerizing. How skillfully, selected the colors, prescribed all the details.

His creation Velazquez makes us think about sin, imbued with thoughts about the meaning of life and stay on this earth. The picture is painted according to all Christian canons. Velázquez was truly a genius of painting in all its forms, leaving a great legacy that remains for centuries in the hearts of those who encounter his work.