1. Diego Roríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter of the contemporary Baroque period. He is best known for his paintings of what?

2. A very important painting by Velazquez is called Las Meninas; why is this painting so important?

He is famous for his portraits of celebrities but also for his influence on some other painters. Las Meninas is one of the most famous paintings in Europe.

Explanation:

Diego Velasquez is a Spanish painter who was the leading painter in the court of King Philip IV. He was one of the most important Baroque painters. From the first half of the nineteenth century, Velázquez's works were an example for realist and impressionist painters, especially Manet. Since then, more and more modern artists, such as Spaniards Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali, as well as the Irish painter Francis Bacon, have been paying tribute to Velázquez's famous works.Las Meninas (Little Court Ladies) is a monumental oil painting on canvas dating from 1656, the greatest masterpiece by Spanish Baroque painter Velázquez. The work above reflects his genius but also his contribution to art. The painting represents one of the foundations of European painting. Baroque painter Luca Giordano called it "theology of painting" and Sir Thomas Lawrence in the 19th century "philosophy of art," while today it is described as "Velázquez's greatest achievement. The painting represents a large room of the Philip's Palace at the center of which is five-year infancy (Princess ) Margarita Teresa, courted by court men (Meninas), a dwarf and a dog, painted their luxurious court clothes by elegant and spontaneous brush strokes, highlighting their textures

Normally it is at the top left, above where the music starts.