Juan de Pareja Painting Themes

Andre Gennie

15 November 2024

Juan de Pareja was a multiracial Spanish painter. Born in Antequera, he gained notoriety as Diego Velazquez’s slave until 1654. He rose to prominence with the ‘Portrait of Juan De Pareja’ made by Velazquez.

Who was Juan De Pareja?

Paintings by Juan de Pareja are mostly known for the grand motifs of flora and religious scenes. During his time with Velazquez, he had picked up Spanish and Italian painting styles, which he employed in his art.

Juan de Pareja Paintings

In his most popular painting, ‘The Calling of Saint Matthews,’ Juan de Pareja included a self-portrait at the left edge, in which the subject is holding a piece of paper bearing his name. It depicts Pareja in a 3/4 view.

1. The Calling of Saint Matthews

2. The Flight Into Egypt

This Juan de Pareja painting deals with the Holy Family’s flight to safety. For this, he drew inspiration for his compositions and brushwork from 16th century Italian artists, particularly Titian.