From the Prado, Velazquez Portraits

Yesterday I was having lunch with friend and colleague extraordinaire Vicky Grube, and sharing stories of the recent trip to Spain. Of all the sights, what stands out the most from the whole adventure are these portraits of the "men of pleasure" as they were then called (court jesters) from the court of Phillip IV by Velazquez. I would have to say these are the greatest expressions of figurative art I have ever encountered, anywhere, ever. Words fail so I thought I'd post some of the images here.