I, Juan De Pareja
The Story of a Great Painter and the Slave He Helped Become a Great Artist
Square Fish · Print & ebook · April 29, 2008
When the great Velázquez was painting his masterpieces at the Spanish court in the seventeenth century, his colors were expertly mixed and his canvases carefully prepared by his slave, Juan de Pareja.
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- Who it’s for
- A vivid view of seventeenth-century Spanish court life, seen through an artist’s hard-won path.
- Themes
- Slavery and artistic freedom, Artistic ambition, Loyal friendship
- Genres
- Renaissance YA, YA Art & Artists, Hispanic & Latino YA
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Start with this bookAbout this book
When the great Velázquez was painting his masterpieces at the Spanish court in the seventeenth century, his colors were expertly mixed and his canvases carefully prepared by his slave, Juan de Pareja. In a vibrant novel which depicts both the beauty and the cruelty of the time and place, Elizabeth Borton de Treviño tells the story of Juan, who was born a slave and died an accomplished and respected artist.
Continue reading
Upon the death of his indulgent mistress in Seville, Juan de Pareja was uprooted from the only home he had known and placed in the charge of a vicious gypsy muleteer to be sent north to his mistress's nephew and heir, Diego Velázquez, who recognized at once the intelligence and gentle breeding which were to make Juan his indispensable assistant and companion—and his lifelong friend. Through Juan's eyes the reader sees Velázquez's delightful family, his working habits and the character of the man, his relations with the shy yet devoted King Philip IV and with his fellow painters, Rubens and Murillo, the climate and customs of Spanish court life. When Velázquez discovers that he and Juan share a love for the art which is his very life, the painter proves his friendship in the most incredible fashion, for in those days it was forbidden by law for slaves to learn or practice the arts. Through the hardships of voyages to Italy, through the illnesses of Velázquez, Juan de Pareja loyally serves until the death of the painter in 1660. I, Juan de Pareja is the winner of the 1966 Newbery Medal. Latino Interest.
Art and Freedom
A vivid view of seventeenth-century Spanish court life, seen through an artist’s hard-won path.
Come here for
- The bond between Velázquez and Juan de Pareja
- Art, friendship, and the constraints of slavery
Expect
- A life shaped by Spanish court customs and hardship
- A close view of Velázquez through Juan’s eyes
Where it sits
| Renaissance YA | 61% |
|---|---|
| YA Art & Artists | 59% |
| Hispanic & Latino YA | 39% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- YA Art & Artists
- YA Biographical Fiction
- Prejudice & Racism for Teens
- Authors
- Elizabeth Borton De Trevino
- Publisher
- Square Fish
- Published
- April 29, 2008
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Slavery and artistic freedom · Artistic ambition · Loyal friendship
- Reading lane
- YA Art & Artists