Russel Spiro Professor D'AmbraArt History 106Comparison PaperVelazauez's 1650 portrait of Juan de Pareja and Peale's 1782 portrait of George Washington differ greatly in their places and their periods of origin, as well as by historical contexts. in which they were painted. Their color palettes and compositions appear to be poles apart from each other, and their subjects are totally different. Despite these apparent contrasts between the two works, they both preserve the resemblance and honor the characters of their respective subjects. Comparing these works illustrates how, although structure and context can vary greatly from portrait to portrait, certain characteristics inherent in many, if not all, portraits remain unchanged even when found in different contexts. seemingly disparate. Although in completely different contexts, the works of Velazquez Juan de Pareja and George Washington de Peale share a common goal: the glorification of the subject. Velazquez's portrait of Juan de Pareja in 1650 unashamedly deviates from the typical portrait subject of powerful and wealthy men of honor, but it retains its function of veneration of its subject. Juan de Pareja was Velazquez's personal assistant, a Moorish slave who helped him in the workshop and at home. In the portrait, Velazquez honors Pareja without altering his identity. He stands tall and powerful, his right arm resting against his stomach. His facial expression is calm and collected as he calmly looks at the viewer. His clothing appears clean and well-kept, which could indicate the self-respect and discipline he must have had as a slave; he is not dirty and unkempt, as his status would have implied. Despite the respect...... middle of paper...... For the same reasons behind the simplicity of the color palette, Velazquez would not have seen the need to render Juan de Pareja with intense precision, for the personal exhibit was not supposed to be subject to scrutiny. This was not the case for Peale while George Washington, whose politically charged nature ensured that he would be scrutinized. Velazquez's Juan de Pareja and Peale's George Washington differ greatly in their presentations and subjects, as well as the contexts in which they were painted. While George Washington was a famous and powerful leader, rendered with vivid colors and a high level of precision, Juan de Pareja was a slave, painted with loose brushstrokes and solid colors. Despite the apparent differences between these two works, they share a common aim intrinsic to portraits, the exaltation of their subjects..