The Surrender of Breda
The artist
Diego Velazquez, the greatest painter of Spain's Golden Age and court artist to King Philip IV.
What you see
A Spanish general kindly accepts the keys of the city of Breda from the Dutch commander, while tall spears rise into the sky behind the soldiers.
The story
Painted around 1635 for a royal palace hall, it remembers a real battle where the winning general treated the losers with respect instead of cruelty.
The style
Velazquez placed the two leaders face to face at the center, so the whole picture feels calm and dignified.
Look closer
The forest of upright spears gives the painting its Spanish nickname, 'Las Lanzas,' which means 'The Lances.'
Where to see it
It hangs in the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain, among many other Velazquez masterpieces.
Fun fact
The victorious general gently rests his hand on the loser's shoulder, a small touch that turns a war scene into a lesson in good manners.