Velázquez, Spain’s leading 17th‑century painter, defined court portraiture and Baroque realism; Las Meninas (1656) remains iconic.
The folding hand fan, abanico, has become a daily companion during Western Europe’s heat waves, with Spaniards adopting it as a practical and cultural symbol. The piece traces its European journey from Portugal’s trade routes to Velázquez’s era, Madrid’s production hub, and Valencia’s flourished craft.