Explore the work of Diego Velázquez, widely regarded as the greatest of the Spanish Old Masters, alongside fellow masters Francisco de Zurbarán, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, and Jusepe de Ribera. We will examine the artistic achievements that made Spain a center of artistic excellence and consider what set Velázquez apart from his contemporaries. What innovations earned him such lasting acclaim, and why do we still study his work today?