Finished 16th August 2015

220 Pieces

Crucifixion - by Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (1599-1660)

Painting of the crucified Jesus Christ was painted in 1632 and is now on display at the Prado Museum, Spain.

The original painting measures 169 x 248 cm

"This serene representation of Christ after death is of Apollonian proportions. He is crucified with four nails, in keeping with the suggestion of the painter's teacher and father-in-law, Francisco Pacheco, who had created a similar work on the same subject in 1614. By placing he feet on a platform and eliminating any spatial reference, Velázquez accentuates the feeling of solitude, silence and rest, rather than the idea of the torment of Christ's Passion.

The influence of Greco-Roman sculpture on the anatomy of Christ indicates that this work was made in the years directly following his return from his first trip to Italy, around 1631-1632.

This painting comes from the sacristy of the Benedictine nuns’ Convent of the Blessed Incarnation of San Plácido in Madrid. Legend has it that it was painted at the behest of Felipe IV to expiate the sacrilege of his falling in love with a young nun." (source)

Finished 4th July 2010 - early morning

1000 Pieces
"Las Meninas" by Diego Velásquez (1656) - the leading painter of the Golden Age

This worldfamous painting can be seen at the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
The painting shows the infanta Margarita, Daughter of King Philipp IV of Spain and her maids of honour, chaperone, bodyguard, two dwarfs and a dog. The painter portrayed himself painting on the left side.

It is known that Pablo Picasso painted more than 40 variations of this masterwork.

By the way: the jigsaw was easy going - and I thought, it was a brainteaser :-)