Who painted The Portrait of Innocent X?

• A. Velasquez
• B. Titian
• C. Bernini
• D. Raphael

Answer: (A)

Recognizing the painter comes from matching the sitter’s presence with the artist’s distinctive approach. The Portrait of Innocent X was painted by Diego Velázquez around 1650, during his time as court painter in Spain. Velázquez is known for a restrained, powerful realism, with deft, confident brushwork and a sense of immediacy in his portraits. In this work, the pope’s piercing gaze, the careful handling of light and shadow, and the rich, but controlled, color of the red garment all reflect Velázquez’s style and ability to convey authority and character without ornament.

The other artists listed belong to different contexts and styles. Titian is a Venetian master from an earlier period known for lush color and broad, expressive brushwork; Bernini was primarily a sculptor of the Baroque era; Raphael represents the High Renaissance with a more idealized, classical approach. This combination of stylistic traits points to Velázquez as the correct attribution.