Las Meninas was painted by which artist?

• A. Peter Paul Rubens
• B. Velázquez
• C. Francisco Goya
• D. Rembrandt

Answer: (B)

Las Meninas is a hallmark of Spanish Baroque painting by Diego Velázquez, who served as the court painter to King Philip IV. Painted in the mid-1650s, the work blends a royal portrait with a genre scene and even includes the artist himself at his easel, with a mirror reflecting the royal couple, inviting the viewer into the scene. This innovative handling of space, gaze, and visual layers is a signature of Velázquez's technique, making him the creator of Las Meninas. The other artists listed—Rubens, Rembrandt, and Goya—are from different places or periods and did not paint this work.