TheOldMastersPrintsLas Meninas by Diego Velázquez: meaning, location and key facts
Las Meninas is an oil on canvas by Diego Velázquez, painted in 1656. It measures 318 × 276 cm and is held at the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
Key facts
| Artist | Diego Velázquez |
|---|---|
| Date | 1656 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 318 × 276 cm (height × width) |
| Museum | Museo del Prado, Madrid |
| Style | Spanish Baroque |
| Data source | Wikidata (Q208758) · Wikipedia |
What it shows
The Infanta Margarita, daughter of Philip IV, stands in the centre surrounded by her ladies-in-waiting (meninas) María Agustina Sarmiento and Isabel de Velasco, the dwarfs Mari Bárbola and Nicolasito Pertusato and a mastiff. On the left, Velázquez portrays himself with palette and brush in front of a huge canvas whose back is all we see.
The mirror at the back reflects King Philip IV and Queen Mariana of Austria, who would be standing where the viewer is. In the doorway, against the light, stands the palace chamberlain José Nieto. The scene takes place in Madrid’s Alcázar palace in 1656.
Did you know?
- The red cross of the Order of Santiago on Velázquez’s chest was added after 1659, when he was admitted to the order.
- Royal inventories called it “The Family of Philip IV”; the title Las Meninas appears in the Prado catalogue of 1843.
- Picasso painted 58 interpretations of it in 1957, now in the Museu Picasso in Barcelona.
Where to see the original
Las Meninas is at the Museo del Prado, Madrid. Works are sometimes lent to exhibitions or taken down for restoration, so it is worth checking the museum’s website before you go.
Which print size to choose
The print keeps the proportions of the original: if they differ from the paper, the painting is centred with a white border and never cropped. More details in our size guide.
| A4 (21 × 29.7 cm) | shelves, desks and gallery walls |
|---|---|
| A3 (29.7 × 42 cm) | bedrooms, hallways and small walls |
| A2 (42 × 59.4 cm) | above a sideboard, chest of drawers or headboard |
| A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm) | above the sofa or as a living-room centrepiece |
Prints are made to order in the Czech Republic and reach the EU in 3 to 8 days, with no customs. Canvases are made in the USA and take about 2 to 3 weeks, with EU VAT included in the price.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Las Meninas?
- The original is held at the Museo del Prado, Madrid.
- How big is Las Meninas?
- The original painting measures 318 × 276 cm (height × width).
- Who painted Las Meninas and when?
- It was painted by Diego Velázquez in 1656.
- Can I hang a reproduction of Las Meninas at home?
- Yes. The work is in the public domain, so it can be freely reproduced. We offer it as a matte print in A4, A3, A2, A1 (from €18.99) and as a ready-to-hang canvas (from €54.99), with free shipping to the EU.
Updated 21 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Message us through the shop and we will fix it.
