Velasquez did wonders if we consider the scarce and broken sitting granted to him by his Royal model, to sketch so beautifully the head, and so well the shoulders, to put the same in perfect harmony with all the rest, and to try to substitute the manifest lack of life with accent and relief. In no other part of the picture did he work better than in that portion on the right comprising the arm leaning on the sword, the folds of the overcoat, the left hand and silver decorated sash, detaching all that with the most beautiful colour from the dark mass of the large hat so beautifully painted. The study of this capital masterpiece

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