WATER CARRIER OF SEVILLE

(1619; London, Wellington Museum)

Diego Velazquezpainted theWater Carrier of Sevillefour years before entering in the service of KingPhilip IVof Spain. It belongs to his Sevillian period whenbodegoneswere his favored subjects, usually painted in theCaravaggiststyle. The work shows a humble street peddler of advanced age in torn clothes offering a glass of water to a customer. He is depicted with the same dignity as a priest holding the challis during the mass. The fact that there are three males in the picture at three different stages of life—one in profile, another in a three-quarter turn, and the last in a frontal pose— suggests the theme of the three ages of man—childhood, adulthood, and old age—common to theBaroqueera. The painting demonstrates Velazquez's ability at rendering different textures, including the terracotta jugs, the beads of sweat on them, the transparency of the glass and water, and the fig at the bottom of the glass then thought to possess purifying properties.