VELÁZQUEZ, Diego Rodriguez de Silva y
(b. 1599, Sevilla, d. 1660, Madrid)

Arachne

1644-48
Oil on canvas, 64 x 58 cm
Meadows Museum, Dallas

This picture is also connected with Arachne, like the famous Las Hilanderas. It presents something of a problem: what is the dark-haired young woman pointing to on the empty panel in front of her? She may be either Arachne seen as the personification of painting, or a Sibyl or prophetess pointing to the future.