This is a painting called "The Maids of Honor" by a Spanish artist, Diego Velazquez. He painted in the Baroque time period. The mystery behind this painting is who or what is he painting? If you look to the left of the painting, you will see the artist himself and we can see the back of a painting. In the center of the painting is a little girl, she is the young daughter of the King and Queen. Is Velazquez painting a picture of her? Or is he painting the King and Queen? If you look deep into the painting at the back wall, there appears to be a mirror with a reflection of a couple in it. Could this be the King and Queen? Are they posing for him? Or is it not a mirror at all, but another painting? Who are all the other people? You may notice one lady who is short in the group. She was the assistant to the princess, because of her height, they thought she would be perfect to help the little princess.
Can you solve the mystery of this painting? Who or what do you think Velazquez is painting? Why are their so many people in the picture?
